Thank you so much for getting this far with me, whether you've been with me from the start or just binging now; I love you all. I'm hoping to make the next chapters fairly full on, as I really want to end the story soon.
BUT this doesn't mean I don't want to write more stories, this experience has been so awesome that I definitely want to keep writing. If you have any requests, characters, plots, ideas, prompts, quotes, fandoms, OTP's, NOTPs, anything you want, I'd love to hear about it.
Follow the story for more updates in the future. Big reveal in this chapter, so look out for that ;)
XOXOXO -Improbable Dreamer
Caterina had strange, faceless dreams.
When she finally awoke, the walls were white, the floor was white; and the elderly woman before her was also clad in thick, white material.
"Responsive."
Her soft voice pooled in and out of Cat's mind, yet she failed to understand a single word.
"Blood pressure is fairly good. 130 over 70. Heart rate seems stable at 60. How're you feeling, sweetie?"
Cat could only respond with a slight grunt, her eyelids fluttering in anguish. She was staring at the lady, wondering why she was surrounded by yellow and silver pinpoint stars.
"You've got a mild concussion, sweetie, nothing to be upset about, you might feel a little foggy."
A little foggy was an understatement. Cat's head felt like the smoking wreckage of an arson-attack. She couldn't discern why she felt this way, why she had a 'concussion', or why the star-lady was adjusting some sort of tube that was connected to her arm.
Suddenly, it all came crashing into her at such a force that she visibly shuddered; The explosive sound of metal striking metal, the world flipping around, the steering wheel getting closer to her face, and finally, an unbelievable pain in her forehead, like her temple was being cut open by a white-hot knife.
"Th-the others?" Cat croaked, her voice felt like it had been harbouring wasps for months. The effort pushed her into a raspy coughing fit.
The nurse carefully handed her a Styrofoam cup of cool water and helped Cat gulp it down with minimum spillage. She had silver, wispy hair, tied back in a loose bun; it reminded Cat of feathers. Her eyes were light brown, almost gold, and her face, while lined with age, was still fairly graceful and elegant.
"Well," The lady managed a picture-perfect smile, though the expression didn't quite meet her eyes. "The redhead is up and walking, she's just a little shaken. The man is also awake but he won't leave room 27, the shorter girl is still unconscious in there, I believe her name was 'Cheryl?'."
Cat mentally ticked off the roll-call of people. So far, Yvonne had survived the crash fairly well, Douglass was keeping Cherry company, who was unconscious. Something about the numbers just didn't stack up, and it took Cat the better part of 20 seconds to work out why.
"Iris?" Cat demanded, a wave of adrenaline passing through her. "The brunette, is she ok?"
Again, the lady smiled, though it seemed more pitiful than reassuring.
"I'm afraid, Iris is still unresponsive. She sustained more serious injuries, since the intrusion was more significant on the passenger side door."
Cat swore under her breath, and beside her, a succession of rapid beeps blared through the quiet hospital room.
"Oh, sweetie." The nurse leaned forwards with little concern, it seemed that this happened fairly often. "Try to keep your heart rate low, stay calm for me, we're doing our best for your friend."
Cat took a series of slow, deep breaths, trying to lower her heart rate more to quieten the annoying beeps than anything.
"Tell me about her." Cat said, after the noise finally faded.
"Contusions to her kidney and liver, blood loss." The nurse listed them on her hands with the same nonchalance as if reciting a shopping list. "But she does show some early signs of cerebral edema, that's quite worrying, if I'm honest with you."
Cat digested this information and noticed a horrid rustling in her midsection; if her stomach didn't feel so hollow, she probably would've emptied it in that moment.
"I know, it's hard to hear." The nurse quickly interjected, noticing Cat's dismayed expression. "But we won't know her full condition until she wakes up."
And then her voice went abruptly quiet, and she averted her gaze.
"I'm sorry. If. If she wakes up."
Cat sighed heavily; she felt extremely useless and vulnerable from the hospital bed. She should be awake, fighting something, fighting to save Iris.
"Again, I'm being honest with you -I think you deserve that much-" The nurse sat on the bed beside her and picked up her hands, Cat was glad for the reassurance.
"-Most people wouldn't have survived for this long. Iris is a strong girl, she's fighting very hard. But, sweetie, you need to have realistic expectations. You need to be prepared."
The nurse released her and leaned back on her elbows, regarding Cat's expression cautiously. She seemed to deliberate her next words carefully before pressing on.
"I wanted to ask you," Her tone was lower, as if the topic was taboo. "I noticed some odd readings in your blood tests; chemicals that are fairly rare, not to mention dangerous. Think you can tell me about your medical history?"
"I was self-medicating." Cat replied honestly and simply.
Luckily, the nurse didn't press her further, and she even left with the promise that Cat could get out of bed in a few hours.
Cat made her way shakily around the hospital corridors, she was wearing a blue hospital-issued t-shirt and matching pants. She passed several doctors who smiled at her reassuringly, even a younger male nurse who flirted with her nervously, until she got bored and excused herself.
Iris had been moved out of the ED several hours before Cat had woken up, and unfortunately her new room was a considerable distance from Caterina's bed.
By the time she had reached the room, she was doubled over and breathing hard against her stomach. The world around her spun like a merry-go-round; maybe she overestimated her current physical capabilities.
"Hey, you're up."
Cat managed a supportive smile in response, Yvonne really looked like hell. Her red hair had formed a nest-like structure and her skin was pale, sheened with sweat. She had a deep purple bruise on her chin and beside her right eye, not to mention a number of white strips lining a gash on her forehead.
"Yeah." Cat lowered herself into the remaining armchair beside Iris, she tried to keep her tone fairly light. "You too, that was a bad hit. I think we got fairly lucky."
Yvonne didn't respond, she was staring down at Iris with crystal-like tears in her eyes.
"Not all of us."
Cat chewed her lip and tried to think of something to say, but for the life of her, nothing came to mind.
Iris was lying on her back, her brown hair neatly pulled over her shoulders in careful curls. Her face was a combination of red and purple cuts, and pale skin. Despite everything, she was still unbelievably beautiful, and judging by the state of her hair, Yvonne probably sat by her bed and cared for her.
"She's probably going to be fine." Cat lied, reaching over for Yvonne's hand. As soon as they made contact, however, Yvonne hastily recoiled as if the touch burned her.
"I-I can't." Yvonne's lower lip was trembling, and she wouldn't meet Cat's eye.
"Th-this is all on you. You got my wife hurt, you-
-you bitch."
Cat sat back in bewilderment, she was so stunned she didn't find it in herself to be angry. "What do you mean?"
Yvonne just wiped at her nose and got to her feet. Before Cat could stop her, she had already disappeared around the door.
Cat slowly sat down again, feeling like crap. Her forearm was oddly numb and she felt the familiar sensation of withdrawals; like being caught mid-fall off a chair.
She was halfway standing when something stopped her, a thought, a duty. Iris was unconscious and alone, and recently she had confirmed herself as one of Cat's last living family members.
If Yvonne had the courage to leave her dying wife, then Caterina could find the courage to stay.
Cat sunk low into her chair just as the pounding in her head began. But this was a battle she could fight for Iris, it gave her some small pathetic sense of triumph.
"Okay, Iris, it's all gonna be okay. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
Douglass was singing softly to himself, an old lullaby his mother use to sing him, it seemed a lifetime ago.
"-Nennen korori yo, Okorori yo. Bōya wa yoi ko da-"
He paused, Cherry was blinking her big brown eyes at him and harbouring a small smile.
"Don't stop Jay, it's beautiful."
Douglass tangled his fingers in hers and smiled warmly down at her. Cherry had a dislocated kneecap and a fairly bruised stomach, but her grin was genuine and content.
"It's Edo komoriuta, the foundation of all Japanese lullabies. It's the only one I bothered to learn."
Cherry sighed happily and began to fiddle with Douglass' hands.
"What's it about."
"Well, the mother is singing to her son. And the boy's nurse-" He scrunched up his face in thought, translation was slightly difficult. "-I guess babysitter. She brings him a flute, and a toy drum from her home in the mountains."
"You didn't tell me you were Japanese."
Douglass laughed. "You never asked. And I'm actually half-Japanese."
"Which half?"
"The not-curly-hair half."
Cherry smirked, though the effort caused her stomach to clench painfully and she winced. "It's nothing." She waved her hand, as a frown had begun to condense over Douglass. "Just achy, trust me. But that does remind me…"
She fixed Douglass with a stern expression and pursed her lips.
"Look, I love Cat, I really do. But you can't deny that we've given her everything, we've done a lot for this League. Now, I think…I think we should retire. It's absolutely fair, she would want us to be safe."
Douglass sighed deeply and brought his fingers to Cherry's dark hair, he pushed a few stray locks away from her face.
"Tell me, Cherry, why do you think we're all doing this?"
She gave a small, unsure shrug.
"Miss Morgan's a friend," Douglass continued in a low voice. "I've already settled that I'll stand by her, even until death. I think I'm right in saying that she truly is a good person. If I don't have my loyalty, what have I got?"
Cherry looked down, seemed to come to some sort of decision, brought Douglass' hand down to her lips, and pressed a soft kiss on the inside of his wrist.
"Me." She replied gently. "Jay, leave with me, now, before Hell finds us."
Douglass sat in stunned silence, he had never considered the occurrence of Cherry caring about him, of wanting him.
"I don…"
"Please, for the love of God," Cherry smiled hollowly. "Don't tell me you don't like me like that. Because I've been going through what I want in my head, and it's so much more than that; want is a selfish word, want indicates that I had some sort of choice in this, in you. I absolutely did not. Even if I did, I choose you, Jay. And I'll keep choosing you, over and over."
Douglass opened his mouth to respond, but Cherry was finally expressing herself after months of one-liners and flirty banter; it was like a waterfall of emotions and confessions.
"Don't think this makes your whole 'chivalrous' thing less annoying, or your clinginess or shyness. Just know that this means I love all these parts about you; because it's you. You're still a pretentious asshole, but you're really sweet and funny, you actually make me feel like I'm worth a damn. I hate saying that I need anyone, because I've spent so much of my life alone and everyone I trust usually lets me down. But I think- I know -that I need you, Jason Douglass. I-"
Douglass had heard enough, and Cherry legitimately sounded like she'd never stop talking and he really wanted her to stop talking. He leaned down, gently placed a hand on her cheek, and kissed her deeply.
Cherry smiled against him and reached up to tangle her hands in his hair. Without breaking the kiss, Douglass slowly wrapped his arms around Cherry's waist, drawing her close, sliding against the smooth mattress. He felt her smaller arms snake around his neck, felt her breathing steadily. After a long moment, Cherry pulled away and turned to the cardiac monitor beside the bed. Without saying a word, she fumbled with the wires until the little screen faded to black.
"I don't think we'll be needing you."
She then returned to the bed and wriggled over to one side. The mattress was barely big enough for both of them, but Douglass found a way to lean half of his body against Cherry without disturbing any of the equipment.
"Cherry," Douglass broke off yet another kiss and gently grazed his lips against her forehead. His voice was lower and gruffer than usual, like the rolling of distant thunder.
"I love you…and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this…It's actually fucking amazing. But you're hurt..."
Cherry traced a pattern against the back of his neck, her brown eyes were gazing up at him with so much love, it physically pained him to have to stop.
"Jay, I've never heard you swear before." She smiled flirtatiously. "It's incredibly sexy. But if I'm honest with you, you're right, I'm pretty tired and sore as hell. Just make out with me?"
He laughed lightly. "What are we? 16?"
"Mhm," Cherry murmured against his lips. "Let's forget the world for a second and hardcore make out. You better behave, sugar."
He held up his hands in surrender, and adjusted himself slightly in the bed so that he was able to fit most of his body on the mattress.
"C'mere." Douglass opened his arms, Cherry crawled against his chest and carefully shifted so that her leg was out of harm's way.
"Baby, you alright?"
"Baby?" Cherry made a face, and planted a soft kiss against his jawline. "Really? Baby?"
He grinned and breathed gently against the top of her head. "Pumpkin, Boo, Sweetheart, Light of My Life, Honey Popsicle."
She rudely interrupted him with a kiss.
Cat stood outside the hospital door, watching, listening, crying softly. She couldn't help it, watching two people who were so in love actually act on it, caused something to ached deep within her.
"Let's forget the world for a second…"
Cat sighed and turned from the room, she brought the door with her. Cherry and Douglass didn't even hear the door shut, their whole world was inside that room.
Cat's mind was a whirlwind of confusing thoughts and feelings. She wanted to find and apologise to Yvonne, but another part of her mind was absolutely furious with the way Yvonne acted. Cat couldn't shake Iris' words from her head either.
"Promise me you'll never be ashamed of who you are, or who you love."
That was a monumental promise to make, considering what her life had been up until this point. She'd killed, tortured, destroyed so many lives; How could she not be ashamed?
If only Iris was around to sing Queen songs with her, to reassure her that everything would be okay, remind her that she was still a person. Because with Iris, unlike with most things, Cat actually cared.
"If she dies," Cat muttered to herself.
"If she dies, I will destroy this city."
By the time Caterina had returned to the apartment, Yvonne was already halfway through dinner. Neither spoke a word as Cat unlocked the door.
Cat grabbed two slices of pizza from the open box and made a beeline for her room.
"Wait."
She paused, turned on her heel, and regarded Yvonne coldly. "What?" She spat. Yvonne looked tired, guilty, and unbelievably stressed. Her lower lip was bleeding from the constant nervous-chewing, her eyes were red and puffy like she'd been crying.
"I just…Wait, please." Yvonne stood up and took a few careful steps forward, she was still very wary of keeping a substantial distance. With a deep breath, she spoke again.
"We really need to talk, that fight we had- what I said…"
"You were right." Cat interjected quietly and brought her arms around herself. "I should have kept Iris safe, it was my mission and I screwed up."
"No," Yvonne shook her head. "It doesn't matter what happened, whose fault it is. I should have been on your side, like I promised, but I wasn't."
A pile of papers and manilla folders covered the small kitchen bench, Yvonne reached into this and pulled a number of them out to show Cat.
"How far would you go to save Iris?"
The question seemed to surprise Cat, but she answered without hesitation.
"I'd die for her."
She took one of the papers from Yvonne's grasp and scanned it quickly. It was ruled in pale, cyan lines, and covered in a neat scrawl of blue handwriting.
"Cardiac glycosides?" Cat read aloud with a quizzical frown. "What kind of research is this?"
Yvonne was scrambling over the bench to collect her papers, a determined look over her face. '" It's this theory that I've been working on, about using this really powerful toxin to slow the heart long enough for the body to regulate the flow."
Cat tried to make sense of the explanation.
"Theoretically," Yvonne continued quickly. "It may also alter cells and their membrane potential, reprogram the genetic makeup of the body. Increase efficiency of cell function and nerve response. Like sending an electric shock through a machine. The body could, essentially, fix itself."
Cat was liking this description less and less, any forms of experimental science never ended particularly well.
"Right," Cat leaned against the wall and folded the paper over in her hands. "So, what exactly does this mean?"
"I have this plant, oleander, it has a large amount of this toxin. And if I extract it and purify it, it could help Iris." Yvonne finished with a shy smile, and maybe she expected praise or congratulations; Cat, however, could only shake her head.
"Let me get this straight," Cat picked her words carefully. "You want to give Iris a dose of this toxin in the vague hopes that some pseudo and very dangerous science will actually succeed?"
Yvonne nodded. Cat sighed.
"You could kill her."
"She's going to die anyway."
Cat furrowed her eyebrows and opened her mouth a few times in an attempt to say something, Yvonne waved a pale hand meekly to interrupt her.
"The nurses told me everything, Iris is lucky to be alive. But they didn't give her more than a few days. Can you possibly understand what that means to me?"
Cat shook her head; she really couldn't.
After a moment of deliberation, Cat released a long, low sigh, and took both of Yvonne's hands in her own.
"Okay." She looked up into Yvonne's turquoise eyes. "I'll do whatever you need me to do. We should call Crane, too, he'll probably be more help than me."
Yvonne wrapped both of her arms around Cat's midsection, and brought her tightly against her into an affectionate hug. "Thank you, Caterina."
Caterina rubbed slow circles against the small of Yvonne's back. "Yvonne, tell me," She couldn't keep the blatant concern from her voice. "Tell me what you'll do when you find who did this."
"I'll tear them apart."
Cat's stomach dropped, her heart skipped a beat. She cleared her throat and tried to seem unfazed by Yvonne's response, Cat was just afraid that she was watching her best friend fall into the same life that she had. The same world filled with blind hatred and revenge.
Yvonne had once been as sweet and delicate as a flower, but now, with her wife in danger, she was more like poison ivy.
Cat shook the thought from her head and just tried to focus on Yvonne's comforting arms around her, but one thought clung to her mind like a disease.
Poison Ivy, the name suited her.