I can barely lift my head. My vision is wobbly but I can still see Barbara
looking down at me with enough concern to kill me with sugar overload. I
try to smile up at her. I need to let her know I'm fine.
"She's not coming," I hear Barbara snap off. I can't really tell whom she is speaking to but she's using her no nonsense tone. Even Helena and I typically don't argue against that one. Unless we're really spoiling for a fight that is.
"You sure that's smart? I mean neither you nor I are exactly what I'd call..."
"Superheroes Reese?" Barbara replies, a tad more snidely than is probably necessary. She's tense. And no, I didn't use my psychic powers to pick that up but hey thanks.
"That's not what I meant," he protests. "And yes, you are. But I meant...in the way of powers."
I try to open my eyes again but the lights in the room are too bright. I'm caught between fatigue and feeling like I'm about to heave. That last blast in the tunnel when I sealed the hatch pretty much melted me all the way down.
"Guys," I murmur, not overly sure if I'm actually speaking of if anyone can hear me if I am. "It's ok, I'm going. Helena needs me."
Barbara and Reese turn towards me. I see glimmers of them through my squinted eyes. She starts to move towards me. "You're not."
"I am," I mutter. I force my eyes all the way open and look up into her worried green eyes. "We're a team. We need the whole team."
Reese nods. He's standing in the back trying to look passive but I can tell that he's pissed. And worried. She means the world to him. "She's right, Barbara. We don't know what we're going into but if Mick is running the Red Zone, that means whoever is behind him is a hell of a lot better put together than Dr. Quinzell."
Barbara glares at him. I want to laugh. That look is so icy. Reese doesn't flinch though. He holds his ground and suddenly I have a lot more respect for him. He's staying with his convictions. He's not about to back down.
Barbara finally does.
"Fine but this is a bad idea."
"Maybe," Reese nods. "But I just don't think we have a choice in this."
"Miss Dinah?" Alfred says from behind me. I turn and see him standing there with a towel over his arm. "Your shower is ready."
I sigh in relief. Something tells me the argument between Reese and Barbara isn't quite over. Not just yet. They both are holding themselves in such a way that I can tell they have a few more points to make.
Just a tad bit stubborn I guess.
Alfred takes my arm and guides me towards one of the bathrooms. I look around the room we're moving through with awe. This is the Master Suite where Helena's father used to sleep.
And damn is it big.
Alfred opens the door to the bathroom which is just about as big as the bedroom I grew up in. The entire room is filled with steam. He touches me gently on the arm "Do you require assistance?"
I look him over, searching for any signs of discomfort. I see none. Just Alfred being Alfred.
I shake my head in the negative. "Thanks, no," I say. "I think I can stand on my own.
"Very well," he replies. "I've taken the liberty of finding you some clothes for tonight."
"Am I dressing up?" I ask, a bit confused.
He shakes his head, "I don't believe so." He placed a pile of clothing on the counter. Looks like denim to me. "If you need me I will be right outside the door."
And with that he's gone. The steam separates to allow him through and I hear a click as the door shuts behind him. I laugh at the drama of it all.
I step out of my clothes and then into the near sauna that all of the steam has created. The water when it hits my skin is warm but not hot. I slide under it, allowing it to rub away all of my fatigue.
It feels good.
Which is a fleeting thing really.
You know I've been at this awhile but you never really get used to the feeling of helplessness you get when you find yourself waltzing into a situation blindfolded.
At least I don't. I'd wager heavily that Helena gets off on flying by the seat of her pants.
I swallow hard, my body stiffening as I think about her.
What we do know is that she's hurt. What we don't know is why Mick would bring her to something he would have to know that'd she'd try to stop. If he's planning on murdering a room full of cops, well then he has to know she won't let him.
So what's his game?
I lean my head against the cool tile of the shower. My mind is whirling a mile a minute and frankly it hurts. What I did earlier was more than I've ever done. It felt like firecrackers sawing through my body.
It felt like heaven on earth.
If I focus real hard, I can hear Reese and Barbara arguing in the other room. It sounds heated. Every now and again I can hear my name and then I can hear Helena's. It's hard to imagine what the disagreement is about because I know they both want to rescue her.
So it has to be about me.
Which means that Barbara is freaking out.
Every now and then she starts acting real skittish, like she's nervous about how far she's brought Helena and I. Like she thinks she's responsible for anything bad we've ever been through. That's usually about the time she tries to talk me into becoming a member of the chess club.
I suck at chess.
No you don't understand. There was a time a few years ago when I was playing a friend and you know what, I actually stumbled into a win. Problem was, I didn't know it and my buddy didn't cop to it. So after we'd put the board away, he told me.
So great huh? I can't even win correctly.
It always blows over, this weird protective streak. Something happens and she refocuses on the whole mission.
But she still has her doubts.
I want to tell her we all do but I just don't think that would comfort her in the manner I'd like it to.
She takes it all on herself. That's just her way.
Truth is though, we're all full of doubts. It's just the nature of things.
And the one doubt I don't have?
If Helena dies tonight, Barbara Gordon will never forgive herself.
I push myself off of the tile, my resolve finally forming.
Enough of this weary lying down crap.
My sister too. My family.
And I am going in.
Let there be no doubt of that.
"What's wrong with her?" Wolf asked, waving a hand past Helena's eyes. "Is she even there?"
The young crime fighter appeared to be staring back at her, bleary blue eyes wide and open. But apparently appearances were wrong because she wasn't showing a single sign of being reactive or aware.
Mick looked up from where he was counting the rifles. "Hm? Oh. I gave her some Topside. She should be okay shortly."
"Never seen anyone go quite so...catatonic?"
"Yeah, me neither. But her pulse is good. She should be fine."
"You sure she won't just snap out of it?"
"Yeah," Mick laughed. "I had Ratboy enhance it a bit. She'll do whatever the hell I want. And I mean whatever."
"So you gonna have her kill Commissioner Montgomery?"
"You betcha," Mick replied, offering her one of the rifles. "I figure even if things go bad, we're not the one who killed the guys with the most stars."
"You're expecting things to go bad?"
Mick saddled up next to Wolf. He touched her cheek with the side of his palm. "No baby, not ever. I'm just saying. And if things go right, I'm guessing she'll be so bent that she'll choose to stay. That'll be fun."
Wolf flashed him a smile but even she couldn't force it to touch her eyes. She loved the man to death but he couldn't seem to see straight about this girl. He was gone on her.
And no self-respecting woman ever allowed her man to have feelings for another girl. Especially such strong and possessive ones.
So no, Helena Kyle wasn't going to be joining the gang after the Shield Ball Massacre.
She'd be joining the dead.
"Mmm," Helena muttered from behind where Wolf and Mick were standing. He looked up abruptly, his eyes flashing with excitement. It took everything Wolf had not to slap the living shit out of him.
"Morning sleepy," Mick said, crossing over to where Helena was finally blinking. He touched her cheek, his fingers lingering a bit too long.
"I was sleeping?" she asked, uncertain. She placed a hand to her head. "Where are we?"
"Not exactly sleeping," Mick said. "And don't worry about where just yet."
"Okay," she said. She fell back against the boxes she had been leaned up against. "What's going on?" Then she blinked. "Mick?"
"Yep," he answered, kneeling down next to her. He ran his fingers through her hair. "It's okay. We need to talk about tonight."
"Tonight?" She shook her head. "I feel so foggy."
Wolf rolled her eyes and crossed around to where Helena and Mick were on the ground. "Kyle, stand up."
Without hesitation Helena did exactly as she was told to do.
She looked up at Wolf in confusion. "What's going on?"
"This is the Cat you wanted?" Wolf snarled. "This isn't a killer."
Mick turned hard on her. "Hey easy there babe. I know exactly what I'm doing. Trust me on this, she's just disorientated."
"Oh yeah?" Wolf replied, shaking her head. "Let's see about that." She stepped over in front of Helena. "Let's just see."
And with that she pulled back and cracked Helena hard across the jaw. The smaller brunette girl spun under the impact, her hand going up to the point of impact. Bleed seeped from her split lip.
"Wolf," Mick warned, his eyes still on his pet project.
She didn't disappoint. When Helena looked up, her eyes were hard slits. She growled and then rushed Wolf. Her hands slid smoothly around the other woman's throat, crushing down as they collapsed inwards. The sheer amount of implied violence in Huntress's posture was astonishing.
"Okay I buy," Wolf coughed out.
"Good," Mick grinned. "Helena, drop her."
She did as she was told to.
Instantly.
Wolf hit the ground with a hard thud, her hand immediately going up to rub her bruised throat. She coughed hard a few times.
"What about her side? She's still bleeding out," Wolf gasped, eyes bleary.
"Her body won't feel it. We'll clean up the wound before we go in. The raw adrenaline and the drug should keep her from feeling any pain. And it should also keep her body from trying to shut down. When this is all over and she's with us, we'll get her fixed up good. Can't have her dying on us."
"No," Wolf drawled sarcastically. "Couldn't have that." She shook her head in irritation. "What about her friends and the pig?"
"She won't recognize them and they won't be able to get through. We'll put the suggestion into her head to shoot anyone she perceives as a threat. They're gonna try to stop her...she'll take care of them. Especially that fucking cop. I want her to drill that son of a bitch right between the eyes."
Wolf nodded slowly. That meant she'd have to get the drop on Kyle. The drop and the final shot.
She turned to gaze at her rival. It almost seemed unfair. Helena was standing there with a blank expression but her eyes were still full of emotion. The rage in the young woman was whirling right under the surface. It would be beautiful to watch.
To watch and end.
Wolf turned to regard her lover, "So when does the party start?"
He squeezed her hand, "Less than an hour now babe."
She chuckled.
It would be one hell of a show.
I'm Reese's date for the evening.
We argued at length for a while but finally agreed that it was the only thing that actually made sense. Dinah is in no condition to be going undercover and even though my father was part of the so-called brotherhood, I need to be with an officer to get in.
So the plan is for Dinah to move around the perimeter and keep an eye on what's going on outside. Hopefully this will keep us from being blindsided.
Hopefully.
In any case, Reese and I will be on the inside. He'll be armed. The good thing about a police ball is that many of the cops will still be carrying their firearms so that's something.
Bad news is that I'm pretty sure Mick has somehow already considered that possibility.
I have to admit I don't care.
Don't get me wrong here. I care deeply about saving the lives of all of those young men and women in uniform but my mission is to save Helena.
I must save Helena.
She's my life.
Seven years ago everything fell apart for me. I was something one moment and in the very next, I was something else entirely. I was a fighter and then I was a voice in a comm set.
Don't get me wrong; I've dealt and all. That's not my point.
My point is that without Helena Kyle, God only knows what would have become of me.
I have my dark secrets about that time after I was shot. After I was hurt. Not things I talk about. Not things I'll ever talk about.
But then she came into my life. For a while before that she lived with foster parents who didn't want her. She was miserable and they weren't thrilled about how active I was in her life. Or the fact that she couldn't control her temper.
There was an incident with her foster father where he started yelling at her about being caught smoking and drinking in the bathroom at school. He apparently got too close to her and Helena broke his jaw.
Yep, literally broke it.
They wanted her gone about five minutes later. They were nice enough not to try to turn it into any major drama but they still didn't want her around.
I don't blame them but I've never faulted her either.
Unfortunately Selena had lived such an isolated life that Helena hadn't been left with many options. She had doted on Helena with such devotion that she hadn't had time for anyone else. We'd been friends only because I had known her secret but just the same, she'd been incredibly selfish with her time. I don't mean that as a bad thing. What I mean is, Selena adored Helena with everything she had in her. She worshipped that child to such a degree that she really didn't want anyone else in her life.
Even Bruce.
Selena always said that she didn't tell Bruce because she didn't want to burden him and maybe that was even partly true. The other part of that however was that she didn't really want to share Helena.
Unfortunately what that meant was that after Selena was murdered, Helena didn't have anywhere to go. No family friends to turn to. The state swept in and tried to tell her that everything was better.
She knew the truth.
It would never be better, just different.
Maybe even workable.
The state didn't care what an angry sixteen year old was going through. Sure they tried to sic every counselor they could on her but Helena wasn't having it. They finally put her in a group home.
She went downhill from there.
When she actually came to class she was so out of it that she couldn't spell her name much less concentrate on colonial history. At least that's what I heard.
You see I was still dealing with my own issues at that time. I hadn't returned to school yet. I wouldn't for a time to come.
And no, again, I won't go into those.
Ever.
The counselors tried to be helpful but she was spinning like a top. She was doing everything she could to lose herself. I'm sure her first sexual encounter occurred some time during that period.
She's never spoken to me about that.
I wonder if she ever will.
For another time I suppose.
Once I came out of my funk, once my crisis had passed, I saw what was going on with her and I think I cracked a little more. She was torn up right in front of me, a young girl ten seconds from a complete meltdown.
There wasn't anything she wasn't doing to try to forget, to fight the rage. She was so completely lost and people had stopped caring.
She had at one time been the captain of the pep squad and one of the most popular students on campus. Constantly surrounded by mobs of people and always entertaining. Then her best friend had suddenly disappeared which had been like a punch to the gut to her. Not long after that her mother had been murdered. Her circle of friends had gone from at least ten down to one. Gibson.
And even he couldn't slow the raging turmoil in her soul. No one could.
Except me.
I stepped in and the state never whimpered a single protest. I had the paperwork done in near record time.
She became my life.
My redemption.
I won't let her go now.
I laugh to myself. I sound almost perverse in my obsession I suppose.
She saved my soul as much as I did hers. She gave me a purpose again. She fights against this battle at times but we both know that we're in this together.
I have to save her.
I have to.
You see if I don't, it's not just her I'm failing.
Not just her.
Me too.
I fall if she does.
"Barbara?"
I turn slightly in my chair and see Reese looking down at me with a puzzled expression. He's dressed beautifully in one of Bruce's old tuxedo. I stop for a moment and inhale sharply. It's quite a visual.
"I'm here," I reply. "You fit his clothes."
"I guess so. He's a little bigger than me in the shoulders," Reese replies, shrugging a bit to show me the difference. Then he tilts his head to the side. "Should I be creeped out to be wearing my girlfriends' fathers clothes?"
I laugh. "No. Looks good on you. And for all of the fashion style she has, I doubt she'd know the difference."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Reese comments. "She still hasn't stopped sniping about my salmon dress shirt."
"It's pink," Dinah snorts as she enters the room. She's wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and I can still plainly see how tired she is.
Just the same, she's made up her mind.
"The car is ready," Alfred tells us from the doorway.
I nod slowly. "Okay."
It's almost time now.
I can't let her down.
I can't.
"Well?" Mick said, pacing around. "Is she ready?"
Ratboy glanced up at his boss and growled. "Almost. Hang on." He looked back down and continued his work on taping up Helena's side. The small brunette was staring straight ahead, her blue eyes distant and unfocused. He finally applied the last piece of tape. "Done." He shook his head. "She didn't make a sound. I guess that stuff you mixed up for her really did its job."
"Yeah, looks like. I mean after all you were damn near putting your whole finger into the wound," Mick growled.
"I was just making sure it was cleaned out," Ratboy protested as he stepped back away from his boss. Maybe the rest of the guys were right and Mick really was losing it over the bitch. He rubbed his jaw absently and realized he really wouldn't be all that upset if she didn't make it back from the Shield Ball.
"Get away from her you moron. Go make sure everyone has their masks. The boss wants us to throw quite a party tonight but I want people to know the Animal Gang still lives."
"Sure boss," Ratboy muttered as he stepped away.
Mick circled around Helena, smiling as he walked. He reached up and stroked her face. Leaning forward he kissed her on the mouth. Her primal reaction, the one he had intentionally tapped, was to kiss him back.
And hard.
After a few moments he broke away. "Damn woman," he whispered.
"Hey Mick," Wolf called out, coming up from behind them. He blinked hard, a bit caught off-guard. He looked her over, searching for any evidence that she had seen what had just occurred. If she had, she wasn't showing it.
"Yeah?" he stammered.
"The Comish just arrived. As well as a bunch of other cops," Wolf informed.
He nodded, his confidence flooding back into him. "Good. Then I'd say we're just about ready." He looked down at her hand. "Is that Cat's mask?"
"You give her the instructions?"
"Yep. If they're wearing a tuxedo, her job is to shoot to kill. And if anyone tries to stop her, she's to off them as well."
"You're sure she gets it?"
"I'm sure," he said, his voice soft.
"Good. I don't want her ruining the party."
"Oh baby," Mick laughed. "She's gonna make the damn party."
Wolf just grunted in reply. She handed him the cat mask and then turned to walk. Finally she turned back, a large smile on her face. "You're right Mick, she will make the party."
She disappeared down the alley leaving him alone with Helena. He watched after Wolf for a long a moment. He frowned. Something was up with her. He couldn't quite put a finger on it just yet but it bothered him.
"Whatever," he finally mumbled. "Helena, look at me love."
She turned to face him.
"Take this."
He reached into the back of his jeans and handed her a pistol. It was his own .44. She turned it over in her palm, her eyes snapping fire. She may have been stripped of her quips and the majority of her personality but the cold hard insides were still there.
The killer was out of the box.
END CHAPTER THREE
"She's not coming," I hear Barbara snap off. I can't really tell whom she is speaking to but she's using her no nonsense tone. Even Helena and I typically don't argue against that one. Unless we're really spoiling for a fight that is.
"You sure that's smart? I mean neither you nor I are exactly what I'd call..."
"Superheroes Reese?" Barbara replies, a tad more snidely than is probably necessary. She's tense. And no, I didn't use my psychic powers to pick that up but hey thanks.
"That's not what I meant," he protests. "And yes, you are. But I meant...in the way of powers."
I try to open my eyes again but the lights in the room are too bright. I'm caught between fatigue and feeling like I'm about to heave. That last blast in the tunnel when I sealed the hatch pretty much melted me all the way down.
"Guys," I murmur, not overly sure if I'm actually speaking of if anyone can hear me if I am. "It's ok, I'm going. Helena needs me."
Barbara and Reese turn towards me. I see glimmers of them through my squinted eyes. She starts to move towards me. "You're not."
"I am," I mutter. I force my eyes all the way open and look up into her worried green eyes. "We're a team. We need the whole team."
Reese nods. He's standing in the back trying to look passive but I can tell that he's pissed. And worried. She means the world to him. "She's right, Barbara. We don't know what we're going into but if Mick is running the Red Zone, that means whoever is behind him is a hell of a lot better put together than Dr. Quinzell."
Barbara glares at him. I want to laugh. That look is so icy. Reese doesn't flinch though. He holds his ground and suddenly I have a lot more respect for him. He's staying with his convictions. He's not about to back down.
Barbara finally does.
"Fine but this is a bad idea."
"Maybe," Reese nods. "But I just don't think we have a choice in this."
"Miss Dinah?" Alfred says from behind me. I turn and see him standing there with a towel over his arm. "Your shower is ready."
I sigh in relief. Something tells me the argument between Reese and Barbara isn't quite over. Not just yet. They both are holding themselves in such a way that I can tell they have a few more points to make.
Just a tad bit stubborn I guess.
Alfred takes my arm and guides me towards one of the bathrooms. I look around the room we're moving through with awe. This is the Master Suite where Helena's father used to sleep.
And damn is it big.
Alfred opens the door to the bathroom which is just about as big as the bedroom I grew up in. The entire room is filled with steam. He touches me gently on the arm "Do you require assistance?"
I look him over, searching for any signs of discomfort. I see none. Just Alfred being Alfred.
I shake my head in the negative. "Thanks, no," I say. "I think I can stand on my own.
"Very well," he replies. "I've taken the liberty of finding you some clothes for tonight."
"Am I dressing up?" I ask, a bit confused.
He shakes his head, "I don't believe so." He placed a pile of clothing on the counter. Looks like denim to me. "If you need me I will be right outside the door."
And with that he's gone. The steam separates to allow him through and I hear a click as the door shuts behind him. I laugh at the drama of it all.
I step out of my clothes and then into the near sauna that all of the steam has created. The water when it hits my skin is warm but not hot. I slide under it, allowing it to rub away all of my fatigue.
It feels good.
Which is a fleeting thing really.
You know I've been at this awhile but you never really get used to the feeling of helplessness you get when you find yourself waltzing into a situation blindfolded.
At least I don't. I'd wager heavily that Helena gets off on flying by the seat of her pants.
I swallow hard, my body stiffening as I think about her.
What we do know is that she's hurt. What we don't know is why Mick would bring her to something he would have to know that'd she'd try to stop. If he's planning on murdering a room full of cops, well then he has to know she won't let him.
So what's his game?
I lean my head against the cool tile of the shower. My mind is whirling a mile a minute and frankly it hurts. What I did earlier was more than I've ever done. It felt like firecrackers sawing through my body.
It felt like heaven on earth.
If I focus real hard, I can hear Reese and Barbara arguing in the other room. It sounds heated. Every now and again I can hear my name and then I can hear Helena's. It's hard to imagine what the disagreement is about because I know they both want to rescue her.
So it has to be about me.
Which means that Barbara is freaking out.
Every now and then she starts acting real skittish, like she's nervous about how far she's brought Helena and I. Like she thinks she's responsible for anything bad we've ever been through. That's usually about the time she tries to talk me into becoming a member of the chess club.
I suck at chess.
No you don't understand. There was a time a few years ago when I was playing a friend and you know what, I actually stumbled into a win. Problem was, I didn't know it and my buddy didn't cop to it. So after we'd put the board away, he told me.
So great huh? I can't even win correctly.
It always blows over, this weird protective streak. Something happens and she refocuses on the whole mission.
But she still has her doubts.
I want to tell her we all do but I just don't think that would comfort her in the manner I'd like it to.
She takes it all on herself. That's just her way.
Truth is though, we're all full of doubts. It's just the nature of things.
And the one doubt I don't have?
If Helena dies tonight, Barbara Gordon will never forgive herself.
I push myself off of the tile, my resolve finally forming.
Enough of this weary lying down crap.
My sister too. My family.
And I am going in.
Let there be no doubt of that.
"What's wrong with her?" Wolf asked, waving a hand past Helena's eyes. "Is she even there?"
The young crime fighter appeared to be staring back at her, bleary blue eyes wide and open. But apparently appearances were wrong because she wasn't showing a single sign of being reactive or aware.
Mick looked up from where he was counting the rifles. "Hm? Oh. I gave her some Topside. She should be okay shortly."
"Never seen anyone go quite so...catatonic?"
"Yeah, me neither. But her pulse is good. She should be fine."
"You sure she won't just snap out of it?"
"Yeah," Mick laughed. "I had Ratboy enhance it a bit. She'll do whatever the hell I want. And I mean whatever."
"So you gonna have her kill Commissioner Montgomery?"
"You betcha," Mick replied, offering her one of the rifles. "I figure even if things go bad, we're not the one who killed the guys with the most stars."
"You're expecting things to go bad?"
Mick saddled up next to Wolf. He touched her cheek with the side of his palm. "No baby, not ever. I'm just saying. And if things go right, I'm guessing she'll be so bent that she'll choose to stay. That'll be fun."
Wolf flashed him a smile but even she couldn't force it to touch her eyes. She loved the man to death but he couldn't seem to see straight about this girl. He was gone on her.
And no self-respecting woman ever allowed her man to have feelings for another girl. Especially such strong and possessive ones.
So no, Helena Kyle wasn't going to be joining the gang after the Shield Ball Massacre.
She'd be joining the dead.
"Mmm," Helena muttered from behind where Wolf and Mick were standing. He looked up abruptly, his eyes flashing with excitement. It took everything Wolf had not to slap the living shit out of him.
"Morning sleepy," Mick said, crossing over to where Helena was finally blinking. He touched her cheek, his fingers lingering a bit too long.
"I was sleeping?" she asked, uncertain. She placed a hand to her head. "Where are we?"
"Not exactly sleeping," Mick said. "And don't worry about where just yet."
"Okay," she said. She fell back against the boxes she had been leaned up against. "What's going on?" Then she blinked. "Mick?"
"Yep," he answered, kneeling down next to her. He ran his fingers through her hair. "It's okay. We need to talk about tonight."
"Tonight?" She shook her head. "I feel so foggy."
Wolf rolled her eyes and crossed around to where Helena and Mick were on the ground. "Kyle, stand up."
Without hesitation Helena did exactly as she was told to do.
She looked up at Wolf in confusion. "What's going on?"
"This is the Cat you wanted?" Wolf snarled. "This isn't a killer."
Mick turned hard on her. "Hey easy there babe. I know exactly what I'm doing. Trust me on this, she's just disorientated."
"Oh yeah?" Wolf replied, shaking her head. "Let's see about that." She stepped over in front of Helena. "Let's just see."
And with that she pulled back and cracked Helena hard across the jaw. The smaller brunette girl spun under the impact, her hand going up to the point of impact. Bleed seeped from her split lip.
"Wolf," Mick warned, his eyes still on his pet project.
She didn't disappoint. When Helena looked up, her eyes were hard slits. She growled and then rushed Wolf. Her hands slid smoothly around the other woman's throat, crushing down as they collapsed inwards. The sheer amount of implied violence in Huntress's posture was astonishing.
"Okay I buy," Wolf coughed out.
"Good," Mick grinned. "Helena, drop her."
She did as she was told to.
Instantly.
Wolf hit the ground with a hard thud, her hand immediately going up to rub her bruised throat. She coughed hard a few times.
"What about her side? She's still bleeding out," Wolf gasped, eyes bleary.
"Her body won't feel it. We'll clean up the wound before we go in. The raw adrenaline and the drug should keep her from feeling any pain. And it should also keep her body from trying to shut down. When this is all over and she's with us, we'll get her fixed up good. Can't have her dying on us."
"No," Wolf drawled sarcastically. "Couldn't have that." She shook her head in irritation. "What about her friends and the pig?"
"She won't recognize them and they won't be able to get through. We'll put the suggestion into her head to shoot anyone she perceives as a threat. They're gonna try to stop her...she'll take care of them. Especially that fucking cop. I want her to drill that son of a bitch right between the eyes."
Wolf nodded slowly. That meant she'd have to get the drop on Kyle. The drop and the final shot.
She turned to gaze at her rival. It almost seemed unfair. Helena was standing there with a blank expression but her eyes were still full of emotion. The rage in the young woman was whirling right under the surface. It would be beautiful to watch.
To watch and end.
Wolf turned to regard her lover, "So when does the party start?"
He squeezed her hand, "Less than an hour now babe."
She chuckled.
It would be one hell of a show.
I'm Reese's date for the evening.
We argued at length for a while but finally agreed that it was the only thing that actually made sense. Dinah is in no condition to be going undercover and even though my father was part of the so-called brotherhood, I need to be with an officer to get in.
So the plan is for Dinah to move around the perimeter and keep an eye on what's going on outside. Hopefully this will keep us from being blindsided.
Hopefully.
In any case, Reese and I will be on the inside. He'll be armed. The good thing about a police ball is that many of the cops will still be carrying their firearms so that's something.
Bad news is that I'm pretty sure Mick has somehow already considered that possibility.
I have to admit I don't care.
Don't get me wrong here. I care deeply about saving the lives of all of those young men and women in uniform but my mission is to save Helena.
I must save Helena.
She's my life.
Seven years ago everything fell apart for me. I was something one moment and in the very next, I was something else entirely. I was a fighter and then I was a voice in a comm set.
Don't get me wrong; I've dealt and all. That's not my point.
My point is that without Helena Kyle, God only knows what would have become of me.
I have my dark secrets about that time after I was shot. After I was hurt. Not things I talk about. Not things I'll ever talk about.
But then she came into my life. For a while before that she lived with foster parents who didn't want her. She was miserable and they weren't thrilled about how active I was in her life. Or the fact that she couldn't control her temper.
There was an incident with her foster father where he started yelling at her about being caught smoking and drinking in the bathroom at school. He apparently got too close to her and Helena broke his jaw.
Yep, literally broke it.
They wanted her gone about five minutes later. They were nice enough not to try to turn it into any major drama but they still didn't want her around.
I don't blame them but I've never faulted her either.
Unfortunately Selena had lived such an isolated life that Helena hadn't been left with many options. She had doted on Helena with such devotion that she hadn't had time for anyone else. We'd been friends only because I had known her secret but just the same, she'd been incredibly selfish with her time. I don't mean that as a bad thing. What I mean is, Selena adored Helena with everything she had in her. She worshipped that child to such a degree that she really didn't want anyone else in her life.
Even Bruce.
Selena always said that she didn't tell Bruce because she didn't want to burden him and maybe that was even partly true. The other part of that however was that she didn't really want to share Helena.
Unfortunately what that meant was that after Selena was murdered, Helena didn't have anywhere to go. No family friends to turn to. The state swept in and tried to tell her that everything was better.
She knew the truth.
It would never be better, just different.
Maybe even workable.
The state didn't care what an angry sixteen year old was going through. Sure they tried to sic every counselor they could on her but Helena wasn't having it. They finally put her in a group home.
She went downhill from there.
When she actually came to class she was so out of it that she couldn't spell her name much less concentrate on colonial history. At least that's what I heard.
You see I was still dealing with my own issues at that time. I hadn't returned to school yet. I wouldn't for a time to come.
And no, again, I won't go into those.
Ever.
The counselors tried to be helpful but she was spinning like a top. She was doing everything she could to lose herself. I'm sure her first sexual encounter occurred some time during that period.
She's never spoken to me about that.
I wonder if she ever will.
For another time I suppose.
Once I came out of my funk, once my crisis had passed, I saw what was going on with her and I think I cracked a little more. She was torn up right in front of me, a young girl ten seconds from a complete meltdown.
There wasn't anything she wasn't doing to try to forget, to fight the rage. She was so completely lost and people had stopped caring.
She had at one time been the captain of the pep squad and one of the most popular students on campus. Constantly surrounded by mobs of people and always entertaining. Then her best friend had suddenly disappeared which had been like a punch to the gut to her. Not long after that her mother had been murdered. Her circle of friends had gone from at least ten down to one. Gibson.
And even he couldn't slow the raging turmoil in her soul. No one could.
Except me.
I stepped in and the state never whimpered a single protest. I had the paperwork done in near record time.
She became my life.
My redemption.
I won't let her go now.
I laugh to myself. I sound almost perverse in my obsession I suppose.
She saved my soul as much as I did hers. She gave me a purpose again. She fights against this battle at times but we both know that we're in this together.
I have to save her.
I have to.
You see if I don't, it's not just her I'm failing.
Not just her.
Me too.
I fall if she does.
"Barbara?"
I turn slightly in my chair and see Reese looking down at me with a puzzled expression. He's dressed beautifully in one of Bruce's old tuxedo. I stop for a moment and inhale sharply. It's quite a visual.
"I'm here," I reply. "You fit his clothes."
"I guess so. He's a little bigger than me in the shoulders," Reese replies, shrugging a bit to show me the difference. Then he tilts his head to the side. "Should I be creeped out to be wearing my girlfriends' fathers clothes?"
I laugh. "No. Looks good on you. And for all of the fashion style she has, I doubt she'd know the difference."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Reese comments. "She still hasn't stopped sniping about my salmon dress shirt."
"It's pink," Dinah snorts as she enters the room. She's wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and I can still plainly see how tired she is.
Just the same, she's made up her mind.
"The car is ready," Alfred tells us from the doorway.
I nod slowly. "Okay."
It's almost time now.
I can't let her down.
I can't.
"Well?" Mick said, pacing around. "Is she ready?"
Ratboy glanced up at his boss and growled. "Almost. Hang on." He looked back down and continued his work on taping up Helena's side. The small brunette was staring straight ahead, her blue eyes distant and unfocused. He finally applied the last piece of tape. "Done." He shook his head. "She didn't make a sound. I guess that stuff you mixed up for her really did its job."
"Yeah, looks like. I mean after all you were damn near putting your whole finger into the wound," Mick growled.
"I was just making sure it was cleaned out," Ratboy protested as he stepped back away from his boss. Maybe the rest of the guys were right and Mick really was losing it over the bitch. He rubbed his jaw absently and realized he really wouldn't be all that upset if she didn't make it back from the Shield Ball.
"Get away from her you moron. Go make sure everyone has their masks. The boss wants us to throw quite a party tonight but I want people to know the Animal Gang still lives."
"Sure boss," Ratboy muttered as he stepped away.
Mick circled around Helena, smiling as he walked. He reached up and stroked her face. Leaning forward he kissed her on the mouth. Her primal reaction, the one he had intentionally tapped, was to kiss him back.
And hard.
After a few moments he broke away. "Damn woman," he whispered.
"Hey Mick," Wolf called out, coming up from behind them. He blinked hard, a bit caught off-guard. He looked her over, searching for any evidence that she had seen what had just occurred. If she had, she wasn't showing it.
"Yeah?" he stammered.
"The Comish just arrived. As well as a bunch of other cops," Wolf informed.
He nodded, his confidence flooding back into him. "Good. Then I'd say we're just about ready." He looked down at her hand. "Is that Cat's mask?"
"You give her the instructions?"
"Yep. If they're wearing a tuxedo, her job is to shoot to kill. And if anyone tries to stop her, she's to off them as well."
"You're sure she gets it?"
"I'm sure," he said, his voice soft.
"Good. I don't want her ruining the party."
"Oh baby," Mick laughed. "She's gonna make the damn party."
Wolf just grunted in reply. She handed him the cat mask and then turned to walk. Finally she turned back, a large smile on her face. "You're right Mick, she will make the party."
She disappeared down the alley leaving him alone with Helena. He watched after Wolf for a long a moment. He frowned. Something was up with her. He couldn't quite put a finger on it just yet but it bothered him.
"Whatever," he finally mumbled. "Helena, look at me love."
She turned to face him.
"Take this."
He reached into the back of his jeans and handed her a pistol. It was his own .44. She turned it over in her palm, her eyes snapping fire. She may have been stripped of her quips and the majority of her personality but the cold hard insides were still there.
The killer was out of the box.
END CHAPTER THREE