Chapter 4
Dinah sat on the couch as she waited for Barbara. She returned with a first aid kit and an ice pack. "Lie down," she told Dinah. "This will help with the swelling," Barbara explained with softness in her voice that she was unable and unwilling to share with Helena.
"It really was an accident, Barbara," Dinah said, shrugging off the ice pack so she could look Barbara in the eyes. "I snuck up on her and she just reacted. She didn't mean it." Dinah was near tears. Not from her eye but from the pain Helena must have felt when Barbara yelled at her. Barbara replaced the ice pack and held it in place until Dinah accepted it willingly and held onto it herself.
Several minutes passed and neither women said a word. Barbara prepared the stitches for the small cut above Dinah's eye which was caused from Helena's ring. Dinah sat bravely as Barbara sewed up the wound as neatly as she could so Dinah would have little, if any, scaring. Normally such tasks were reserved for Alfred, who frequently would patch up Bruce Wayne but he was in England handling some personal business. Barbara really didn't mind stitching Dinah up, for she had had plenty of practice herself at the procedure. Dinah flinched slightly, but put on a brave face, not wanting Barbara to get more upset.
"Do you want a painkiller?" Barbara asked as she went to replace the ice pack. Dinah reached out to take it but instead, grabbed Barbara's hand and let her mind travelled to the visions of black and white, the colorless world she saw when she used her Meta human power. She entered Barbara's mind and saw a flash of Barbara slumped on the ground, crumpled in Helena's arms, crying. The next flash was of Helena striking out and kicking an unfortunate victim who curled helplessly in a ball on the ground as she pressed on with the attack.
Barbara realized what Dinah was doing and quickly yanked her hand away. "I'm sorry," Dinah quickly apologized, knowing how Barbara felt about her using Dinah powers on her. Barbara sighed heavily out of frustration and bit her tongue to keep from saying something she didn't want to say. Instead, she packed up the first aid supplies, meticulously placing each item in its spot and set them aside. She reached for the blanket that was at the foot of the couch and covered Dinah without saying another word to her. She leaned over and kissed the young girl on the forehead and left to sit out on the balcony, alone. Dinah closed her eyes and winced at the pain of the wound. She knew she would be sporting a black eye by morning.
***
The sun broke through the morning sky and Helena found that she had wandered the streets all night. She couldn't go back to the clock tower and she didn't want to go to her apartment. Following her subconscious, she was surprised to discover where it had led her. Helena sat on the stairs of the cement steps, waiting for someone to open the door and let her in. She waited for over an hour, the sun getting brighter and brighter as her mood became quite the opposite. Finally the moment she was waiting for had arrived. A woman approached her curiously.
"Helena, I'm surprised to see you here," she said as Helena rose to her feet. The woman looked into Helena's eyes and saw the unmistakable look of someone who had been crying for some time. Helena's eyes were red and puffy and a sadness emitted from them that would break anyone's heart. "You weren't scheduled today," she softly informs her client.
Helena didn't like her current feeling of vulnerability and second-guessed her decision. "No, we didn't," she said firmly. "I made a mistake, I'll see you later," she finished quickly and jumped down the steps but as she tried to run, she found herself caught in a vice-like grip from Dr. Saramen. She grabbed Helena's arm and didn't let go but loosened her grip when Helena didn't pull away.
"I don't have any appointments Helena. Why don't you come upstairs?" Dr. Saramen spoke gently, sensing Helena's desperate need to flee. She held up a paper bag she carried in her left hand and continued. "Breakfast special for two," she smiled, "Would you join me?"
Helena pulled out of her grip but didn't run. "Why are you being nice to me?" she demanded to know, remembering how well their last encounter went when Helena had tossed her precious diploma out the window, destroying it.
Dr. Saramen smiled, "It's just breakfast Helena. You won't think I'm so nice once I send you the therapy bill." Helena's face dropped for a moment and finally a smile erupted. Her therapist looked pleased. "Now that's more like it," she said, handing Helena the bag. "Let's go upstairs."
***
Barbara tossed and turned, nightmares plaguing her. She could not escape the feelings of hurt and betrayal, nor did she try. She let herself sink deeper and deeper into depression and did nothing to stop herself. She didn't care. She was focused on her goal, nothing more. Barbara rose from her bed, used her arms to pull herself into her wheelchair and headed for the kitchen, but stopped when she saw Dinah, still asleep on the couch. The blanket half hung on the floor. Quietly, Barbara approached and covered Dinah. She studied her eye and although the swelling had gone down, a dark circle surrounded the tender tissue. Anger once again found its way into Barbara. She clenched her teeth tightly and left for the kitchen.
***
Helena gulped down the food hungrily as Dr. Saramen studied her patient's body language. Helena could feel her eyes on her and instead of looking up to confirm that fact, Helena stopped just as she was about to take another bite of bagel and said, "I appreciate the breakfast but if you want a show, go to the theatre." Her therapist quickly darted her eyes away, realizing that her sly attempt at studying her patient backfired. This one is definitely a challenge, she realized.
They sat in silence until Helena was done eating. When she finished, Helena dumped the garbage in the trash bin and walked back over the wall with the diplomas. Dr. Saramen sat upright. Helena smiled slightly and turned back to the doctor. "Helena? You aren't going to make another of my diplomas fly out the window, are you?" she leaned forward. "I worked too hard for them to go splat on the sidewalk." Helena shifted her weight uncomfortably, knowing that she was wrong in her actions but feeling no regret. She shook her head no and the therapist relaxed back in her chair. "Why don't you sit down and tell me what brought you to my doorstep so early today?" Dr. Saramen didn't want to push but she had to start somewhere.
Helena flipped herself over the chair and landed squarely on the seat, legs loosely hung over the armrest. She opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it again, not allowing herself to fall into a trap and open up. The doctor witnessed the transformation but there was little she could do. Until Helena was willing to accept the hand extended to her, there was little anyone could do for her. Her tough exterior was deadly but the red eyes showed a vulnerability that Helena was not yet ready to be confronted on. "I was in the neighbourhood," Helena joked, but neither of the women laughed. "Just thought I'd save myself the trip and have my next appointment now." Dr. Saramen stared her down and Helena shifted positions, feeling very naked at the moment.
"Why don't you try the honest approach, Helena? I'm here to help you. You've been up all night, why don't you tell me what happened," she pressed and defiantly, Helena jumped from her chair and walked out the door without a word. Guess I pushed her too quickly, the therapist realized.
Helena slammed her fist through the hallway wall in frustration and didn't even flinch as the skin ripped from her knuckles.