A Hero's Dealing
Chapter 1
Dinah Lance signed quietly gazing at the school before her. This was the last place she wanted to be right now, but this is what Barbara would have wanted, she would have wanted her to keep going with her life, so she did. She walked to the auditorium ignoring the looks of pity she was sure she was receiving. She could practically hear the whispers now; their faces said it all, she knew what they were thinking: "There goes Dinah Lance, Ms. Gordon, the teacher that died, that was her legal guardian, she's an orphan."
"You're not an orphan," Gabby said walking up, as if she could read Dinah's thoughts.
"I never said I was," Dinah snapped, still walking down the hall to the auditorium.
"You were still thinking it," Gabby argued, "you've still got Helena, she'll take care of you, don't let anyone tell you you're an orphan or that you're alone because you're not."
Dinah sighed again, "I still don't see why I had to come, and I heard all this stuff at the funeral."
"The school just wants to help Dinah," Gabby said, "they want to pay a tribute to one of the favorite teachers in this school, you should feel proud of her, and Dinah it wouldn't kill you to let people in, in fact it will probably kill you if you don't."
"That advice Barbara would give, let people in," Dinah said sadly before getting bitter, "of course you wouldn't need to give me advice if Barbara weren't dead."
"If Barbara would say it, then you know it's good advice," Gabby said choosing not to comment on Dinah's bitterness as they walked into the auditorium, "isn't Helena supposed to be here?"
"She and Bruce had some legal stuff to take care of, they'll get here if they can. Reese and Alfred are here though, we can sit with them," Dinah explained waving to Reese before dragging Gabby over to sit down.
The principal's speech was nice, but Dinah could tell he was working hard to keep it impersonal for the sake of the rest of the school. A few of the teachers went up to speak, they all had nice things to say, but it gave Dinah little comfort. A few of Barbara's old students had come to say things about her, one of them even planned to become a teacher like Barbara had, they all said that Barbara had really inspired them to do something with their lives. The last person to speak was Gabby, who talked about knowing Barbara through Dinah, and how wonderful she had thought Barbara was, also mentioning how she wished she could have known her more. Dinah stopped listening after Gabby's speech, the principal had stood back up and was talking about something they were going to dedicate in honor of Barbara. Some of the kids in Barbara's old class were getting video ready that they had made as a project in computer class, it was in honor of Barbara.
Dinah was completely out of it though; in her mind she was replaying her life with Barbara. She was seeing the first time she had met Barbara and Helena, she was remembering Helena's hostility and Barbara's love and warmth. She was remembering how welcomed Barbara had made her feel, and how Barbara had always tried to help her no matter what. She remembered earlier that year when Barbara had excitedly announced that the paperwork was done and that Dinah was legally under her care. Barbara and Helena had thrown a party to celebrate, and officially welcome her to the family, Dinah remembered finally feeling whole. All her memories led up to the last time she had seen Barbara alive, and then finally to night when she had been just moments to late to save Barbara. She remembered rushing into the warehouse to save Barbara, to help her, she remember seeing Barbara's body lying on the ground, covered in blood. Then she remember the pain and sadness she felt from herself and others around her as they buried Barbara's body in the ground, seeing her one last time. Suddenly it was too much for Dinah; she just couldn't stay there anymore. Uncaring that Barbara's students were in the middle of a presentation Dinah took off for the exit without saying a word she needed to be alone.
Driving to the docks behind the warehouse where Barbara died, Dinah sat down on a rock and stared out into the water, she had never felt so alone. Unable to control her tears any longer, Dinah finally began to cry, letting out the pain she had felt ever since she had found Barbara's body, ever since she lost her mentor. Looking out onto the water through her tears, Dinah saw a smiling Barbara reflected in the water. Dinah blinked hoping against hope that Barbara was back, and this was all a bad dream, but when she looked again there was no reflection, Barbara had just been a figment of her imagination, the Barbara she and Helena knew, was gone.
Chapter 1
Dinah Lance signed quietly gazing at the school before her. This was the last place she wanted to be right now, but this is what Barbara would have wanted, she would have wanted her to keep going with her life, so she did. She walked to the auditorium ignoring the looks of pity she was sure she was receiving. She could practically hear the whispers now; their faces said it all, she knew what they were thinking: "There goes Dinah Lance, Ms. Gordon, the teacher that died, that was her legal guardian, she's an orphan."
"You're not an orphan," Gabby said walking up, as if she could read Dinah's thoughts.
"I never said I was," Dinah snapped, still walking down the hall to the auditorium.
"You were still thinking it," Gabby argued, "you've still got Helena, she'll take care of you, don't let anyone tell you you're an orphan or that you're alone because you're not."
Dinah sighed again, "I still don't see why I had to come, and I heard all this stuff at the funeral."
"The school just wants to help Dinah," Gabby said, "they want to pay a tribute to one of the favorite teachers in this school, you should feel proud of her, and Dinah it wouldn't kill you to let people in, in fact it will probably kill you if you don't."
"That advice Barbara would give, let people in," Dinah said sadly before getting bitter, "of course you wouldn't need to give me advice if Barbara weren't dead."
"If Barbara would say it, then you know it's good advice," Gabby said choosing not to comment on Dinah's bitterness as they walked into the auditorium, "isn't Helena supposed to be here?"
"She and Bruce had some legal stuff to take care of, they'll get here if they can. Reese and Alfred are here though, we can sit with them," Dinah explained waving to Reese before dragging Gabby over to sit down.
The principal's speech was nice, but Dinah could tell he was working hard to keep it impersonal for the sake of the rest of the school. A few of the teachers went up to speak, they all had nice things to say, but it gave Dinah little comfort. A few of Barbara's old students had come to say things about her, one of them even planned to become a teacher like Barbara had, they all said that Barbara had really inspired them to do something with their lives. The last person to speak was Gabby, who talked about knowing Barbara through Dinah, and how wonderful she had thought Barbara was, also mentioning how she wished she could have known her more. Dinah stopped listening after Gabby's speech, the principal had stood back up and was talking about something they were going to dedicate in honor of Barbara. Some of the kids in Barbara's old class were getting video ready that they had made as a project in computer class, it was in honor of Barbara.
Dinah was completely out of it though; in her mind she was replaying her life with Barbara. She was seeing the first time she had met Barbara and Helena, she was remembering Helena's hostility and Barbara's love and warmth. She was remembering how welcomed Barbara had made her feel, and how Barbara had always tried to help her no matter what. She remembered earlier that year when Barbara had excitedly announced that the paperwork was done and that Dinah was legally under her care. Barbara and Helena had thrown a party to celebrate, and officially welcome her to the family, Dinah remembered finally feeling whole. All her memories led up to the last time she had seen Barbara alive, and then finally to night when she had been just moments to late to save Barbara. She remembered rushing into the warehouse to save Barbara, to help her, she remember seeing Barbara's body lying on the ground, covered in blood. Then she remember the pain and sadness she felt from herself and others around her as they buried Barbara's body in the ground, seeing her one last time. Suddenly it was too much for Dinah; she just couldn't stay there anymore. Uncaring that Barbara's students were in the middle of a presentation Dinah took off for the exit without saying a word she needed to be alone.
Driving to the docks behind the warehouse where Barbara died, Dinah sat down on a rock and stared out into the water, she had never felt so alone. Unable to control her tears any longer, Dinah finally began to cry, letting out the pain she had felt ever since she had found Barbara's body, ever since she lost her mentor. Looking out onto the water through her tears, Dinah saw a smiling Barbara reflected in the water. Dinah blinked hoping against hope that Barbara was back, and this was all a bad dream, but when she looked again there was no reflection, Barbara had just been a figment of her imagination, the Barbara she and Helena knew, was gone.