Chapter 6
As Helena sat on the sidewalk sobbing, three large men approached Huntress. They looked at her leeringly. "Well lookie here boys," one said as they began to circle her, "Looks like we found us some dessert." She could smell his rank breath moving in closer. The sense of danger caused her eyes to change but she paused for a moment to wipe the tears that flooded them. In that moment of distraction, two of the men lunged for Huntress and she fell flat on her back. They grabbed for her arms and held her down as the third man looked at her hungrily.
"No need to cry there, little one," another of the men spoke, his rotting teeth repulsive, causing Helena to gag. She hated them seeing her cry, but it was about to be the last thing they saw.
The man standing now crouched down and moved closer to Huntress. "I like it when they cry," he smiled, licking his lips. "Shows them who's in control." Huntress let him approach and stopped struggling with the other two men. "See boys, just gotta show them who's boss." He looked at her intently and then noticed the keychain that had fallen out of her hand. He picked it up. "A mother's love never dies. Aw, how sweet," he mocked, "We got us a real gem here, boys. And I think she'll like the jewels I have for her." He grabbed himself suggestively and then climbed on top of Huntress. A scream erupted and the men holding Huntress's arms let go and looked at one another, shocked at what had just happened.
The man that had climbed on top of her now toppled over on the ground, clutching his precious jewels, screaming in pain. She rose dangerously to her feet and kicked him once more for good measure, cracking a rib in the process. "I think you better go back to the pawn shop," her eyes traveled downward, "those jewels are worthless," she smugly replied and left him in agony to go after the other men.
They started to run the moment she broke their friend's ribs, rightfully fearing for their lives. She caught up to them with little effort and flew overtop of them and landed square in front. They skidded to a stop and tried to retreat but she grabbed each guy with one hand, smashed them into one another and then outward, both flying in opposite directions until they came in contact with walls of the buildings on either side. Both hit the wall with tremendous impact and the sound of broken bones once again apparent. One fell unconscious; the other writhed in pain on the concrete where he landed.
Huntress picked up her keychain, slipped it in her pocket and sauntered off. Strangely, she was thankful for the attack because it gave her the adrenaline she needed to be able to face going to the clock tower. She wanted to see Barbara, wanted desperately to talk to her but instinctively she knew that would not happen, not today, not for a long time. Helena shook her head in mock defeat, tortured by the realizations of what Barbara thought of her. How am I going to get through this? She asked herself as she headed down the streets. She stopped for a moment, thinking she had heard something over her comm. set but there was no response. Must be the wind, she laughed, wondering if she had lost her mind. Helena stopped short and eyes grew wide as she rounded the corner and bumped into a familiar face.
Helena was immediately defensive. "Are you following me?" she questioned, grabbing the woman by the shirt. She was too surprised to respond so Helena asked again, "Well? Are you? Answer me!" Aggression built in Helena and she fought to keep her eyes from changing and giving herself away.
"Helena, please," the woman begged, trying to get Helena to loosen her grip. "I was just on my way for lunch," she explained, "I always eat at the diner on Maple Street," she pointed at the neon sign in the near distance. She looked down at the hold Helena had and motioned with her eyes, silently asking her to let go. Helena complied.
"Sorry," she said and she straightened Dr. Saramen's shirt. "I'm having a bad day." She looked down at the ground. Dr. Saramen reached out and took Helena's hand, raising it so she could get a better look. The knuckles were still covered with dried blood from where she had punched though the wall earlier that morning. Helena didn't care, she had too many other things to worry about. Surprisingly to Dr. Saramen, Helena didn't pull away as she held her hand. As much as it surprised her, it shocked the hell out of Helena.
"You really need to clean this wound before it gets infected," the therapist spoke softly, trying to soothe an obviously tormented Helena. "Will you let me help you?" she asked, her eyes staring directly into Helena's. She felt the pain gather in her heart yet again, the adrenaline diminishing, but she didn't pull away. Silent tears began to well up in Helena's eyes. I watched my mom die! She wanted to scream, to desperately rid herself of that vision, of the torture. My mom… Helena cried, she couldn't hide the tears, she no longer cared. Dr. Saramen pulled Helena closer and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, giving Helena the hug she was desperately needing.
Helena responded and allowed herself to be comforted, but only for a moment. Visions of Harley crossed her mind, her betrayal, how she used Helena to hurt the only person left that cared about her; Barbara. Helena felt a twinge of guilt. She wanted to trust Harley and the moment she opened up, her words became weapons. And ultimately, her words became Wade's death sentence. I can't do this again! She yelled to herself. NO! She shoved Dr. Saramen, breaking the embrace and left her as she slammed against the wall behind her. Helena took off running and once out of view, jumped onto the fire escape and made her way across the rooftops, heading for the clock tower. I won't let you down again, Barbara, she told herself. Never.
***
The elevator opened and Helena hesitantly walked out, unsure of the atmosphere she was approaching. Her usual air of confidence vanished and walking into what was her second home now made her feel like an unwanted guest. She cautiously glided to the center of the room. "Hello?" she called out, carefully. "Is anyone here?" A cheerful voice shouted from the top of the stairs.
"Oh! Helena! I'll be right down," Dinah shouted as she moved quickly from her bedroom to the bathroom, with a towel in her hands, and wearing the robe that Helena had given her when she first moved into the clock tower. She never admitted it but she felt badly for the kid because when Dinah ran away and landed in New Gotham, her belongings were stolen, including the robe that Black Canary had given the Redmond's for when Dinah was older. Helena smiled as Dinah crossed the hallway, snugly wrapped in Helena's robe. It warmed her heart to know that Dinah really did appreciate Helena's gesture and for a moment, made her forget about her apprehension about being in the tower.
The nerves returned as Barbara came out of the kitchen with stacked plates sitting on her lap as she make her way to the table. "Helena," Barbara said, mildly startled. They locked eyes for a moment, Helena desperately trying to read the thoughts in Barbara's head. What she would give to have Dinah's Meta human power just this once. Barbara saw the redness brimming in Helena's eyes. She knew Helena was crying earlier, she listened over the comms, and like now, decided not to say a word about it. "I've made us lunch," she explained, handing Helena the plates. "Set these up while I get the rest of the stuff," she said with little emotion.
Helena glanced around the room and saw the table completely covered with gadgets and circuits that Barbara was fiddling with. "Set it up where?" she wanted to know and Barbara nodded in the direction of the coffee table. Helena meekly smiled in acknowledgement and set up the plates and silverware carefully, trying to make it perfect. She sat down on the couch and took a deep breath, hoping the nerves would calm down. This was Barbara yet Helena felt as if she were in the presence of someone she had just been introduced to. She hated the feeling but Barbara was calling the shots and setting the tone. Helena had no option but to leave or comply, and she had lost enough as it was. She opted to see it through, no matter how much it pained her soul.
A thunderous crash, followed by Barbara swearing came from the kitchen. "Shit!" Barbara cursed, "What the hell was that doing up there?" Helena burst in the room with lightning speed. Broken plates and cups spilled across the floor along with the plant that once sat on the shelf above the sink. The shelf supports broke and as the shelf toppled onto the cupboard, it sent everything else flying.
"Barbara!" she cried, "Are you okay?" Barbara turned to face Helena and her eyes were blazing but Helena saw something else… pain. Barbara was hurt. She rushed over. "What happened?"
"I was reaching up for the cups and the shelf gave way," she explained in mild disbelief. Barbara winced as she turned, pulling her left arm instinctively closer to her chest for protection. Helena moved in closer, still being cautious around her friend. "Damn!" Barbara gritted her teeth, now feeling the pain in her arm even stronger. She looked to Helena, silently asking for an explanation as she turned her chair.
"Shit! You're bleeding, Barbara!" Helena was worried. She grabbed a cloth and placed it over the wound on the back of Barbara's left shoulder. Barbara automatically shrugged Helena off.
"I'll be fine, it's just a scratch," she lied, suddenly feeling like Helena on all those nights after sweeps. Helena would come back battered and bruised and she'd let her pride get in her way. Just a scratch, she'd tell Barbara, followed by… "I can take care of myself, Helena," Barbara snapped, a little harsher than she had meant, this time. She headed for her bedroom, leaving Helena concerned but helpless….and alone.