Thanks to those who are sticking with this story. And RKF22 I do appreciate how you review every chapter but I would like to see if you could expand it beyond great update. Hope you all enjoy this chapter.
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Shayera sat in the rocking chair in Rex's room on the Watchtower as she cooed Rex to sleep. Tomorrow she and the rest of the founders plus two more would be going to a dark place. She might not ever see him again. She did not doubt her own abilities to survive, but still. Being a mother now made her worried more.
Rex giggled a little in his sleep and began to slurp on her top. She sighed and slowly got up to place him the crib.
"Good night my little angel," she whispered softly before kissing him on the forehead.
She exited his room and made for hers but she ran into John on the way.
"Hello John," she said in an icy voice as her face flushed a little with red.
"Shayera," John replied. "Is he…"
"I just put him to bed. Don't wake him up."
"I just want to kiss him good night," John said and entered the room. Shayera sighed.
She and John had big argument after they interrogated Bane. Shayera, frustrated by her husband's lack of concern he was showing to Batman, had kicked him out of the room. He could sleep in the Metro for all she cared. She did not want to share a bed with him until he learned what she had an issue with. He seemed quick to forgive her when she betrayed the League and yet why was he too proud to do it for Batman? Did he really forgive her for betraying the League or was he just putting it aside to love here?
Regardless, she could not share a bed with him until she knew he actually forgiven her. She allowed him to visit Rex but that was it.
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John sighed as he heard the doors closed behind him. He slowly crept to his son's crib. Silently he just stood there awhile watching his son murmur in his sleep. He slowly began to tousle Rex's hair. He was already getting big.
John then looked up to stare at his own reflection and saw his glowing green eyes staring back.
Earlier he had given Mister Terrific a DVD. Mister Terrific, due to his skills and position, was one of the few aware of the top secret mission they were about to embark. Due to the danger of the mission, John knew there was a chance he would not come back. So he made sure to leave behind a DVD of himself instructing his son how to do certain things like shave, play football, the sex talk. Everything a boy would need his father to talk about.
But most important John touched on in the DVD was how to love a woman. He recorded himself describing how he had fallen in love with his son's mother and still loved her. Even though they were fighting right now, John in his heart always loved her still. He had forgiven her for her betrayal long before they got back together. It just took him a while to admit he loved her again was what stopped him for getting back together with her.
John sighed again. He still was not sure why Shayera was mad at him.
He thought it was because he was not one of the biggest supporters of Batman but it seemed to be something different. The past week John had been wondering in jealousy. Did something happen between Shayera and Batman when he was dating Vixen?
Sure Batman at the time was trying to deny his thing with Diana when he was on the League, but still, Shayera and Batman did seem to grow a little closer…
No must not think those thoughts right now. He was spending what might be the last few moments with his son.
After a while John left sadly to find the hallway empty and Shayera had gone back to her own room. He was tempting to knock on the door and talk to her, but now would not be the time. They had bigger things to worry about.
The irony was not lost on John. He was not the biggest fan of Batman and yet he was willing to risk his own life to save him. The value of brotherhood the military had taught him was still in him. Batman was once a comrade and soldiers never give up on each other.
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Clark sat in his bed holding Lois tightly in his arms. He just wanted to hold her. No fancy dinner, no passionate night. Nothing but just holding her in his arms softly.
He was just staring in the ceiling with his blue eyes while tightly holding his fiancé.
Lois began to stir.
"Wh-what time is it?" she yawned.
"One in the morning. Go back to sleep," he whispered softly.
"I could say the same for you," she said and placed an arm across his chest.
"I'll be fine," he remarked.
Lois sighed and kissed her fiancé on the cheek.
"I know you're scared. It's okay."
Clark did not say anything and continued to sit in solemn silence.
"You know you don't have to do this."
Clark finally looked at her in the eyes.
"I have to. Besides I thought you wanted me to bring Bruce back."
"Yea but that is different. I wanted you to talk to him because he is your friend."
"Lois. I need to do this. I abandoned him."
"I just want to know you are doing this because he is your friend. If you are, I understand and fully support you. I just don't want you to risk your life out of misplaced sense of guilt."
Clark did not respond but just gave cold silence. He was not sure the answer was either. Was he really doing it because Bruce was his friend or was he doing it because he felt guilty?
"Get some sleep Clark," she replied a little coldly before rolling over out of his arms and going back to sleep.
Clark knew better to not try to embrace her again.
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Wally sat in the kitchen plowing through ice cream. Of course his high metabolism required him to consume large amounts of food, but he always ate ice cream for other reasons as well.
It helped him cope whenever he was scared.
As much as he always tried to play off as the confident Flash always cracking a joke, he was always hurting. He did it to hide how really scared he was. A superhero was not supposed to feel scared like a kid. But Wally West was scared.
Scared he was not going to come back, but also scared if they failed. What would happen to Batman? What would happen if Doctor Destiny succeeded? He didn't deserve to wear the uniform. He was a coward.
"Wally?" said Linda in a tired voice as she entered the kitchen. She was wearing a bright yellow robe. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah Linda. Just getting a midnight snack," he lied.
Linda smiled softly and did not buy it.
Instead she walked over and took the ice cream bucket from him and started to eat out of it.
"I thought you were watching your weight?" Wally half teased in attempt to lighten up the mood.
Linda glared and punched him in the shoulder.
"Just kidding," Wally winced while smiling.
"I know you're scared Wally. I would be too. No one would blame you. But you have pulled yourself out of tight spots before. If there is anyone I know that will make it, it's you."
Wally felt a little better. Thank God for Linda. The young couple spent the rest of the night eating ice cream and talking. It did make Wally feel a lot more confident in himself.
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Barbara and Dick sat in the Manor. Since Bruce was not there to man it, Dick and Barbara had taken up residence there so they could cover for Bruce. They already put out the cover story but still. It was never good to leave the Manor, let alone the batcave abandoned.
Dick was pacing back and forth in the living room on a faded yellow rug. Barbara sighed as she sat on the couch.
He so reminded her of Bruce. If only they could see it.
"I still think I should come with you," she replied a little angrily.
"Someone needs to manage the batcave if we don't succeed. Plus we need someone to tell the world Bruce Wayne died if we-we"
But Barbara knew what he was trying to say. Dick did not want to say if they failed.
"I know you are scared that you will not make it Dick but you will. I have faith."
Dick ignored the encouraging words.
"Babs. I'm going to be honest. I don't think I'm going to make it back."
"Then why are you going…"
"Because I have to! I don't know why but I do!" Dick explained angrily. He had been asking himself that question for a while. Why was he risking his life to save Batman? It should have been Barbara. She had the most contact with Bruce after the incident with Tim.
Barbara however was not petty like that. She instead got up and placed a hand on Dick's shoulder.
"Dick. I have faith in you. You will make it," she said even though she wanted to come. Dick would not allow it. And Dick was right. Someone needed to make sure Bruce's secret would die with him. If Batman's secret identity was leaked to the public, it would ruin the whole image of Batman. Batman was supposed to be nameless, incorruptible. Someone needed to be around to make sure Batman stayed a legend.
And she knew Dick would not do it. She knew him. Even when he was scared, he could never sit by while others died. It was part of his character.
"I'll see you in the morning," Dick replied, taking her hand off his shoulder and made his way upstairs.
Barbara sat back down and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed a number she had been dialing all week. No one picked up and the phone went straight to voicemail.
Tim must have gotten Caller ID now. Barbara sighed. Maybe she would have better luck reaching him tomorrow.
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Lobo belched loudly as he attached the machine to his Hog. He then started it up. The orange light begin to glow and he took off. He shouldn't have drunk so much before riding but who cares. He was on the Justice League now. He could do whatever he wanted and said it was League business.
He was surprise they did not have little badges or something. It would be pretty cool. It would make his life easier. Not that his life was not already awesome. He was Lobo and the chicks loved him. Being in the League was not really improving his life per se, but was just making it more awesome than it already was.
Or that was what at least he felt.
After this mission he was going to sell the machine and go on a vacation somewhere. Maybe even earth. Maybe find a nice beach with some hot babes to bake in the sun.
God he loved his life. It was awesome. He wouldn't trade it for anything else.
He began to hum a happy he tune as he sped across space to Earth. Maybe get a bite to eat on the way.
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J'onn sat in the Metro Tower Med Bay. He looked at Batman's lifeless body as he set the machine.
If the League did not survive this mission, they knew they had no other choice. Batman would have to die. But if they were not around to pull the plug, they were doomed. That was why J'onn was programming the machine that Bruce was hooked on for life support.
J'onn knew it would take about a week for Doctor Destiny to fully consume Batman's soul. So he set the machine to shut down in a week. It would also give Bruce a lethal injection so he would not starve or die of thirst. None of the League knew about this, J'onn kept this off the table. None of them would had approved of it.
The machine beeped signaling the program was set. J'onn sighed sadly. He had officially put Bruce's life on the clock. The Justice League had a week to save him before he died. It was for the greater good of the world.
J'onn walked out of the Med Bay, he needed some time to be alone.
Exiting the hallway J'onn explored the empty tower. The founders still banned anyone from entering the Tower other than them, Dick or Lobo. Mister Terrific knew of their mission but respected the decision. J'onn told Mister Terrific to send a team town to the Metro if the League did not hear from them in a week.
A week.
That's all they had. A week.
A week to succeed. A week to stop Doctor Destiny. A week to save Batman. A week to save the world.
J'onn sighed and made his way to the roof to look out the stars. The sky was still black, but at the horizon, J'onn could see a faint indigo color. The sun would rise soon.
He really was alone. But it was for the best. He needed to make the difficult decision.
J'onn was not happy with himself at all. He had essentially killed Batman. It went against everything he fought for the past years. But he was also the last survivor of a war. He had made difficult decisions and sacrifices before.
Besides he knew that Bruce would not want to be kept alive if it meant unleashing a monster like Doctor Destiny on the world.
Easy for Bruce though. He never had to sacrifice his own morality for the greater good. J'onn envied his friend for a second. Sacrificing your own life seemed easier than sacrificing your principles for the greater good.
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Diana and Tom sat on the balcony of her apartment quietly, watching the sun rise. They were both used to working late hours and did not mind staying up together. Both were aware of the dangerous mission she was undertaking soon. They both wanted to spend time as much as they could together.
Tom sighed before speaking, ending the silence.
"Did you ever think about having kids?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I just feel like I jumped the gun a little too early by proposing to you. I didn't even ask if you had plans for the future. I was just curious."
Diana smiled.
"Tom you did not jump the gun. I would give you an answer right now except I can't until this thing with Batman is over. I'm sorry but it's just bad taste right now."
"But can you at least give me a hint?" Tom teased in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Diana leaned in and kissed Tom on the lips.
"But that would spoil the surprise."
Tom was speechless for a second. Even though that did not confirm anything, Tom's heart was pounding. She was going to say yes. She will say yes, as soon as she finished this mission.
Diana could tell what Tom was thinking and laughed to herself. She wanted to say yes too. It made sense. They were compatible and truly loved each other. But she just could not in good conscience give an answer until she and the League saved Batman or stopped Doctor Destiny. She was not sure why, but she just couldn't.
"And to answer your question, I never really thought about kids. I'm not sure if I even can have any, being from clay and what not."
Tom laughed at her joke.
"We can always adopt."
"But I heard it's a long process."
Tom shook his head. "With my job and your job, there are perks to it. The adoption agency will see us as a perfect couple."
Diana did smile again. It did make her feel more hope.
"If you had a child, what would you name it?" Diana asked curiously.
Tom smiled sheepishly.
"Thomas," he muttered quietly.
Diana snorted. "Why are men so egotistical?"
"Hey, my father's name was Thomas Tresser and so was his father! It's a tradition!"
Diana laughed. She loved teasing him.
"But how do you know you are going to have a son? What if you had a little girl?"
"Well I always liked the name Charlene. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"What would you name your kids if you had any?"
Diana paused. She never really thought about having kids. Let alone a son.
"I don't know about a boy. I guess I still have some Amazon in me so I can't pick a name for a boy. If I had a girl I would probably name her Athena. She's the goddess of wisdom and I always loved the name."
"How about if we ever get married and have a baby, we'll name the baby Thomas if it's a boy and Athena if it's a girl?"
"You assume a lot, Mr. Tresser," Diana flirted. "You still don't know my answer yet."
"I know but I'm just planning. Can't help it can I?"
Diana smiled. She looked back into the horizon. The sky was violet now. In a manner of seconds the sun would rise. She grabbed Tom's hand again and lowered her head on his shoulder.
"I love you Diana," he whispered.
"I love you too Tom," she said as the sun made its way up.