A/N:Drum roll, please? :drums pound in background: Ok, stop! :Drums cease: Damn things were getting on my nerves! Anyway, the whole point of that little show was to announce that we have reached the end. :Waves hands to quiet disappointed cries: But never fear amigos, there is more! I am, at this very moment, working on a semi-sequel – I call it that because it can stand mostly on its own, but if you've read this one, then great! You'll have to be patient, because it's not completed yet, and it looks like it's going to be a monster! And don't worry, malificentme, Dick will appear in that story – in fact, he already has! I want to finish writing it before I type and post it, so y'all don't go postal on me while waiting for updates, lol!!!! Anyway, muchas gracias to Arlene, my fabulous beta, for all her help! Ok, enough yammer, on with the story!!!

Disclaimer: Obviously not here, as this is not the beginning, but the end. Y'all know who owns them, anyway . . . . :walks off muttering about stupid TV people:

Ok, go read now!

There was another pull, and then Helena found herself back in the medbay, with Dinah across from her and Barbara lying on the bed between them. The monitors showed no change, and she slumped back in her chair, eyes closed, wondering briefly if it had all been in vain. Then her hand was squeezed, very gently, and her eyes flew open to see Barbara stirring slightly.

            "Dinah, go find Alfred, quick! Tell him to call Leslie," Helena ordered, barely registering the girl's departure as she leaned over the bed. "Barbara? It's ok, I'm here, come on back."

            Barbara's eyes fluttered open slowly. She didn't seem to see Helena, but stared past her at the ceiling for a minute. Without warning, tears welled up and began to run down her temples into her hair. Helena spoke her guardian's name softly, gently, and the other woman turned to her, reaching out blindly as she broke down. Helena wrapped her arms around Barbara and held her, letting her pour out all the sadness, the guilt, and the fear she'd held inside for too long.

            "I'm sorry," Barbara whispered, holding tightly to Helena as if afraid she would disappear. "I'm so sorry . . ."

            "It's all right," Helena promised, feeling tears of her own fall in response to Barbara's pain. "You'll be okay. It'll take time, but you'll get through this, I promise. I'll help you every step of the way." They stayed like that, clinging tightly to each other, until the door opened to admit Dinah, bringing Alfred and Dr. Thompkins.

            Leslie took over immediately, ordering Alfred and the two girls out while she examined Barbara. Alfred immediately headed off to make tea, while Dinah attempted to busy herself at one of the computers, although the frequent glances she threw towards the closed door of the medbay indicated her lack of success. Helena paced a circuit around the computers, occasionally glaring at the closed door as if wishing she could take out her frustrations on it. Finally, the door opened to admit Dr. Thompkins.

            "Well? How is she?" Dinah was the first one over, although Helena was right behind her.

            "She'll be fine," the elderly physician assured them with a smile. "The knife wound is healing nicely, but I want her to stay flat on her back until at least tomorrow to make sure."

            "Oh, she'll stay there," Helena assured her. "I'll make sure of it, even if I have to tie her down."

            "All right; well, I'll be going then," Leslie said, laughing. "Oh, Barbara's asked to see you, Helena. Not too long, ok? She needs her rest."

            "No problem." Helena watched as Alfred escorted the doctor out. She vaguely heard Dinah say something about homework as she turned and entered the medbay. Barbara's eyes were closed as she approached the bed, but a quick check of the monitors showed that she had only fallen asleep. Helena smiled as she pulled up a chair, adjusting the height so that Barbara would be able to see her comfortably when she woke.

            It was maybe a half an hour later when Barbara woke. "Hey," Helena said softly as the older woman stirred, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "How do you feel?"

            "Like I just lost a round of hand-to-hand with a street punk," Barbara said hoarsely, rubbing at her neck where some faint bruises remained from the chokehold her assailant had put on her. She took a deep breath to say something, but was interrupted by a coughing fit. Helena moved to the side table, where a glass of water waited. Taking it, she raised Barbara slightly and helped her drink. Once she was done, Helena laid her down and resumed her seat in the chair.

            "Did you mean it?" Barbara said finally, breaking the silence that was threatening to become uncomfortable.

            "Mean what?" Helena asked.

            "What you said before in my mind, about me saving you. Did you mean it?" Tears glimmered, ready to fall, behind green eyes.

            "Of course I meant it, every word," Helena responded, her throat closing around tears of her own. "How could you doubt it? You've been my only family for the last seven years, Barbara. How could you not see what you did for me?"

            "Because I didn't set out to save you. I was trying to save myself." The tears were flowing freely now, but Barbara paid them no heed as she reached out for Helena's hand. "You can't imagine what it was like, to wake up in that hospital bed and be told that I would never walk again. I wanted to die. Batgirl gave my life meaning, purpose, and I didn't know who I was without her." She stopped speaking for a moment, overcome by the memories she was reliving. Helena gripped her hand tightly, lending silent support, and waited.

            When she was calmer, Barbara continued, her eyes never leaving Helena's. "Then I heard about your mom's death, and suddenly there was a way for my life to have meaning again. Your father lost his parents in a similar way, and while it led to him becoming Batman, it also cost him a great deal of his soul. I wanted to spare you that, and that desire gave me something to live for. So however much you think I saved you, I want you to know – you saved me just as much."

            There was silence for a long moment, as each woman contemplated what had passed between them. The moment was broken abruptly when Barbara yawned. "I should let you sleep," Helena said, standing up. "Leslie would kill me if she knew I'd been in here this long." She started to turn towards the door, but was stopped when Barbara spoke.

            "Stay, please?" Her voice was soft, but Helena detected a hint of fear underneath, a fear that she remembered all too well. She didn't reply, but settled back into her chair and was rewarded by the flash of relief in Barbara's eyes before she closed them. Smiling, Helena took Barbara's hand in her own and let her mind drift, remembering how the other woman had changed her life.

            It was less than an hour later when Barbara's hand suddenly tightened around hers, and Helena jerked her attention back to the bed to see her mentor twisting in the grip of a nightmare, tossing her head from side to side and muttering under her breath. Helena could only catch a few words, but she heard enough to realize that Barbara was again dreaming of her past with Lady Shiva.

            "Barbara!" Helena moved to the head of the bed, and took the older woman's face in her hands, trying to calm her frantic movements. "Barbara, it's just a dream! Come on, wake up!"

            Barbara's eyes snapped open as if with the force of a blow, and she stared wildly at Helena for a minute. Then she seemed to come back to herself, and pure anguish filled her eyes. "When will Shiva stop haunting me, Helena?" she asked plaintively, sounding very much like a child seeking reassurance from a parent.

            Helena leaned down and put her arms around the woman who had become her second mother, holding her tight. "I don't know," she admitted sadly. "I wish I could tell you that it would be soon. I won't lie to you, though. It will take some time to get rid of this demon. But you're strong, Barbara, you can do it. I have faith in you."

            The two women talked a while longer, before Barbara drifted off to sleep again. Helena watched her carefully for a while, and when no more nightmares seemed imminent, lay down on a nearby bed to get some sleep of her own.

            The next day, after a final, exhaustive checkup from Leslie Thompkins, Barbara was allowed back into her wheelchair. After a shower and change, she entered the main room to find Helena coming out of the elevator with a duffel bag. "What's this?" she asked as she approached her former charge.

            Helena shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Some of my stuff. I'm gonna stay here for a while so I can be nearby if you need me."

            "You really don't have to," Barbara began to protest, but was cut off by Helena's best 'Huntress' glare.

            "Yes, I do," the younger woman said firmly, but her face softened as she looked at Barbara. "You were there for me, every night, for months after my mom died. Now it's my turn." She smiled briefly, and then returned to a serious demeanor. "So, got any food around here? I cannot go out on sweep tonight with low blood sugar."

            Barbara laughed as she followed Helena to the kitchen. She'd almost forgotten what it was like to feel truly happy. It gave her hope that she could lay the demons of her past to rest one day. Until then, she would continue fighting against evil, seeking her redemption.

And that's all she wrote, folks! Well, at least until I can get the next one out. You guys have been great. I can't tell you how much it means to me to get such wonderful reviews from all of you, especially from authors whose stories I admire and respect! Smores for everybody!!!!