And now . . . . . chapter 6!!!! We're getting close to the end, amigos; two more chapters, and that's the end!

Disclaimer: You know, if you don't know where it is by now . . . . .

A/N: Thanks again to my beta Arlene, who catches my plot errors as well as my excessive semicolon use!!! LOL, seriously, though, this story would not be as good without her help; thanks, chica!

Ok, ok, enough yammering; go read!!!

            Once Dr. Thompkins arrived, she shooed them out of the medbay while she examined Barbara. Alfred joined them as they waited. His perpetual calm seemed somewhat rattled, but he still managed to exert a calming effect on their frantic nervousness. Finally, the door opened and the doctor emerged. "What have you found, Doctor?" Alfred asked as they gathered around her.

            Leslie sighed, frustration showing clearly through her professional demeanor. "I've examined Barbara thoroughly, I've run every test I can think of, and even a few more, but I can't tell you why she won't wake. There's really no medical reason; she did hit her head, but not hard enough for this kind of unresponsiveness. There's really nothing to do but wait; I'm afraid it's up to Barbara now."

            Once the doctor left, Alfred joined Helena and Dinah around Barbara's bed as they tried to make sense of what they had been told. "Could it be a meta?" Dinah asked finally. "Maybe that guy was a meta-human, and he's keeping her unconscious somehow."

            "I believe that the answer is somewhat simpler than that, Miss Dinah," Alfred replied. "I believe that it is far more likely that Miss Barbara simply does not wish to wake."

            "Ok, Alfred, now I think you're ready to retire," Helena laughed briefly before sobering. "Why would Barbara want to be unconscious? She's got this whole save-the-world kick going. She can't do that like this."

            "I've been keeping a close eye on her since the incident with Lady Shiva," Alfred told them, his expression grave. "Miss Barbara has not been herself since that time. I believe that she still blames herself somewhat for the unfortunate death of Shiva's sister."

            "I've seen it too," Dinah said slowly. "She's had nightmares since that whole thing went down; not often at first, but they've been coming more and more lately. Sometimes, I hear her calling Shiva's name."
            "You said something earlier about an incident at the bazaar." Helena reminded her.

            Dinah nodded quickly. "Wade said there was a fight, and Barbara's wheelchair got knocked over. They were supposed to have dinner, but she took off right after that."

            "That may have been a trigger," Alfred said thoughtfully. "Perhaps this attack allowed Miss Barbara to create a world that, in one way or another, is far less painful than this one."

            "Or it could be the other way around," Helena countered. "If she feels guilty, maybe she's found a place where she can punish herself the way she thinks she needs to be."

            There was a deep silence following her words, until Alfred excused himself to prepare lunch. "Why would she hide from us?" Dinah asked finally, tears in her eyes, her voice almost a whisper. "Why wouldn't she come to us, let us help her?"

            "It's that damn stubborn pride of hers," Helena said softly, her eyes never leaving Barbara. "She always wants to handle things herself, and this is personal for her." Something changed in her face, and she looked straight at Dinah. "If we can't make her come out to us to deal with this, we're going to have to go in to her. Can you take me into her mind, like you did before with me?"

            Dinah's eyes shadowed briefly as she remembered that time, just after she'd come to New Gotham, but she didn't hesitate. Taking one of Barbara's hands in hers, she reached out to Helena, who was sitting on the other side of the bed. Helena took a deep breath, squeezed Barbara's hand, and joined hands with Dinah.

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:lareina turns to walk away and knocks over box of graham crackers, prompting a bout of swearing: