The Dark Horse bar was in shambles. Chairs were broken into pieces on the
floor and tables were turn on their sides. Glass was shattered all over the
ground. All of it debris from an especially nasty bar fight the previous
evening. Something about who was going to get to home with whom.
Helena sighed and slipped through the door, heading towards the stairs to her apartment. She stopped when her eyes lit on a white envelope sitting on the counter. The contrast between it and all the clutter was astonishing. She picked it up and turned it over in her hands, wondering if it was some kind of rude message from Leonard.
It wasn't.
"You put the knife in Barbara's back, I just pushed it in further. Really how could she ever forgive your betrayal? You stole her the only chance to be a woman again. Thanks for helping me to kill sweet Wade Brixton. Your favorite psychiatrist, Dr. Quinzell."
Helena felt the anger growing inside her. She picked up one of the chairs that was on the ground and smashed it against the bar, splintering it into a thousand pieces. "Dammit!" she barked. She started to pace the floor, her hands curled into hard fists. Harley had been there; she knew where she lived; she knew all about her, about Barbara, Dinah and the Clocktower. And all of it thanks to her and her big mouth. She kicked wildly at another chair on the floor, enjoying the sound of it cracking. She hopped behind the bar, landing on the balls of her feet.
She pulled a bottle of scotch from the rack and quickly poured herself a shot. She drained it quickly and the immediately made another. She knocked that one back as well, feeling the hot liquid burn as it coursed down her throat. She prepared herself another shot. Her mind was whirling, spinning with anger. All she could think of was that fateful night six months earlier. The night when she had let them all down.
Barbara. Dinah. Alfred. Reese.
Wade.
She took the next swig and filled the glass again. It burned, but not enough to make her stop. Not enough to calm the nightmares and emotions.
Wade.
God! Wade.
His death and the effect it had had on Barbara was like a knife right to the heart. It burned like hell even as it cut deeper. She drained the shot and immediately refilled it. A voice in her head screamed at her to stop or at least to slow down. She ignored it, the anger and hatred continuing to build. She wanted to cry but the tears refused to come. Instead it was like a heavy wall of guilt rested squarely on her shoulders, pushing her down into the ground. She could barely breathe beneath the weight but that hardly seemed important.
She had trusted Dr. Quinzell and through that she had betrayed her family and friends and cost them all so dearly.
She drank the next shot. She didn't want to think but her mind betrayed her; she hated that. She just wanted to black everything out but his face hovered in her mind.
Wade.
And then she saw Barbara's tears. Her anger. Her heartbreak.
Helena lifted the glass to her mouth again and let the liquid flow down her throat.
It wasn't burning as much anymore.
*****
Dinah walked into the bar, marveling at the destruction. She hadn't been there for the fight on the night before but she'd heard that it had been quite a scene. She moved a broken chair out of the way with her foot and stepped towards the stairs. She was a bit amazed to see that any of the lights downstairs were still on. Even if dimly so.
She hoped that Barbara was right and that Helena really had returned home, it made it easier to keep an eye on her. Now, looking back at what she had seen in the garage, it occurred to Dinah that Helena had already been struggling with the guilt and anger even then.
Dinah placed a foot on the stairs, her momentum carrying her upwards. She stopped however when she heard the sound of something rolling. It sounded like glass. She dropped back down and moved around to the opposite side of the bar.
Her eyes widened in horror at what she saw. Helena was sitting on the floor with her back resting against one of the wood cabinet doors and her legs spread; her head falling over her chest and an almost empty shot glass in her right hand. Dinah saw the scotch bottle with just a bit of liquid left inside of it next to her leg.
She shook her head. "Oh God! Helena!"
She kneeled down next to Helena. The first thing she noticed was the brunette was clutching a wrinkled piece of paper in her left hand. She took the letter from her inebriated friend and read it. Then she whistled in frustration. "Damn." She moved the bottle away from Helena, her eyes bulging when she caught sight of another empty bottle lying a few feet away. "Helena, God, how much did you drink?"
"Mmm?" the girl mumbled.
Dinah placed a finger under her chin and raised her head. "Helena came on, wake up." She wondered idly if she should call for an ambulance. But then again, could metas actually get alcohol poisoning? And more to the point could Helena who always drank like a fish?
Helena moved her hand back and grumbled; she tried to lie on her side but Dinah held her. "Ah no." she said holding her "You can't sleep here." She put her arm around Helena's back and helped her to stand up. Helena protested but Dinah began to walk her to the stairs. "God! You smell awful."
The brunette mumbled something incomprehensible. Dinah yanked her up the stairs, struggling against Helena's nearly dead-weight. After a few long minutes she was finally standing in the hallway in front of Helena's apartment door. She slipped her hands in front of Helena and moved them into her jacket pockets.
"Where are your keys?" Dinah asked. Helena leaned over her with all her weight and Dinah almost fell. She moved the drunk woman against the wall holding her with her left hand while she looked for the keys. "Helena, they're not here! Where are the keys?"
"Mmm?" the brunette mumbled.
"The keys, I need to open your apartment."
"Its open..."
Dinah sighed and opened the door. She put Helena's arm again over her shoulder and walked in. "Damn you're heavy. What have you been eating lately?" she quipped, knowing full well that her friend was in extremely good shape. They stumbled through the apartment, Dinah tugging at her, until they reached the bedroom in the back. The blonde released her arms, allowing Helena to drop against the king sized mattress. Dinah sat down beside her and started to remove Helena's leather overcoat.
"Helena you need a shower. You reek of alcohol."
The brunette opened her eyes and looked around "Where am I?"
"In your room." Dinah took off her belt.
"What are you doing? Why are you undressing me?" Helena leaned closer to her, her words slurring. "Something you want to tell me?"
Dinah chose to ignore her. "You need a shower," she replied.
"Hey... hey..." Helena slapped her hands away. "Don't touch. I don't need a damn shower. I'm fine."
"Hel, you're drunk. You're falling down nasty ass stinking drunk," Dinah shot back. She yanked the belt loose and dropped it on the ground.
"I want to sleep," Helena groaned, moving away from her. She crawled over her mattress and sunk against it, clutching her pillow to her. She looked like a small child trying to seek comfort in an inanimate object.
It would have been adorable if it weren't so pathetic.
Dinah grabbed at her and yanked her back up. "Nope. You need a shower first big girl. We need to get you at least somewhat back to your senses." She reached across Helena and started to unbuckle her leather pants.
Helena grabbed onto the pillow with one hand and shoved away at Dinah with the other. She slid a hand over the buckle of her pants. "Dinah, no!"
"Helena, dammit, stop being such a child," Dinah growled at her and she yanked the brunette back towards her. It was like some obscene form of tug of war.
Helena again pushed her away, crawling back towards the top of the bed. She dug her face into the pillow. Dinah stood up from the bed, shaking her head. She crossed into the bathroom and turned on the show. She yanked off her jacket, shoes and socks. She put a hand under the shower head to test the water.
Cold. Very cold.
Perfect.
She slipped back into the bedroom and went towards Helena who was practically asleep. Sliding an arm around her waist she hefted her into the air, ignoring the gyrations of the brunette as she tried to escape.
"You're taking a shower and that's final," Dinah growled as she dropped Helena under the water.
The reaction was instant as Helena cried out and tried to get away but ended up slipping and slamming her butt against the tile. She tried to climb out the tub but Dinah held on to her, keeping her under the water.
"Dinah let me go!" Helena yelled as she tried to kick out. Water splattered underneath her, causing her to again lose her balance and thud to the ground.
"Wake up!" Dinah shouted pushing her down. She turned the showerhead towards Helena, ensuring that the brunette was fully soaked.
After a few moments of struggling Helena finally managed to shove Dinah away from her. Sputtering she rolled herself out of the tub and onto the bathroom floor.
"Damn! It's cold! What the hell are you thinking?" she shouted to the blond girl.
"I'm trying to keep you from passing out from alcohol poisoning," Dinah snapped back at her. "Now get in the damn shower." She reached over and grabbed a towel off the rack. She wiped her face clean of water and then bent down and turned some hot water on. She figured that her point had been made.
She was wrong.
"No," Helena shot back as she snagged another towel and started trying to dry herself off.
"Get in the shower or I swear to God..." Dinah stopped and took a deep breath. "Next time I won't be so nice."
"I'm shaking," Helena taunted. "Come on kid, bring it on."
"You know what Helena?" Dinah said with a sigh. "You really are an ugly drunk." She put her hands out flat in front of her and closed her eyes, focusing all of her telekinetic powers. Helena jerked backwards, as if held by invisible hands. Her body flew up over the side of the tub and slammed against the shower wall. Helena was furious but badly disorientated from all the alcohol and Dinah was able to hold in her place with little effort.
"Fine, fine!" Helena finally cried out. She sagged against the wall. Dinah released her hold on the brunette, which caused Helena to stumble a few steps. Muttering in anger Helena began to tug at her leather pants. "Fuck," she cursed as the pants stuck to her like a second skin.
"What's wrong?" Dinah looked at her friend from the doorway. She continued to dry her hair, annoyed by how wet she was.
"I can't take a shower with my pants on," Helena snapped back. She pushed herself up against the shower wall and continued to yank at her pants. She topped briefly, bring a hand up to her head to stop everything from spinning around her like a crazy top.
"Okay," Dinah said simply, her lip lifted in amusement. "Then take them off."
Helena stepped out the shower soaked and dripping water. She balanced herself against the wall and again tried to yank at them. Finally she looked up with oddest look in her eyes. "I...uh...well...I think they're stuck."
"How do pants get stuck?" Dinah asked raising an eyebrow.
"I take it that you've never tried to remove wet leather pants before," Helena growled.
"Can't say as I have," Dinah smirked. She crossed over to Helena. "Here, let me help."
Helena held up a hand. "I can do it myself," she gritted out. She jumped twice in the air, trying to force the slick leather pants down. Her head spun but she ignored it.
"Fine," Dinah said with amusement. "You can do it yourself." She backed off and stood watching, her smile growing. It almost felt like poetic justice.
"Dammit," Helena cried out. The alcohol in her blood was starting to burn and her stomach was growing more and more queasy by the moment. She jerked hard at her waistband, her thumb slipping beneath the fabric.
"Hel," Dinah started. "Why so much?"
"It's a free country," Helena grunted. "And you're not my mother."
"And you're still a mean drunk," Dinah sighed. "You need coffee." She turned and walked back to the front of the apartment, towards the kitchen. She bent over the Mr. Coffee and turned it on. A loud thud from the bathroom alerted her back to Helena. Dropping the filter that she had been holding, she ran back towards the bathroom.
She almost laughed when she saw Helena lying on her back, the leather pants around her knees. Dinah started towards her but Helena held up a hand to halt her. "I can handle this."
"Sure," Dinah quipped. "You're doing a great job so far." She leaned against the wall to watch the show. Five minutes later she was in the same position and Helena was still struggling with the pants.
"Dammit, I'm drunk and I'm stuck," Helena sulked, falling still.
"You look like a big black worm," Dinah grinned.
"Funny, help me."
Dinah kneeled down in front of Helena and pulled at her pants. "They really are stuck," she said with a slight chuckle.
"I told you so," Helena grunted. "And it's not funny."
Dinah held Helena's legs with her arms. "Oh it's really funny, trust me." She scowled as she examined the stuck leather. "Maybe we need to cut them off."
"Forget it," Helena snapped. "I'm drunk, not stupid. And I'm not losing a pair of pants. Do you know how expensive they were?"
"No," Dinah admitted. She yanked once more and the pants finally slid down Helena, leaving her naked from the waist down save her g-string. "Now get in the shower. Let's not fight about this again, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it; Dinah's on a power high. Don't think I won't remember this," Helena grunted. Then she waved her hand dismissively. "Get out. I need to get undressed."
Dinah grinned at her but remained silent, instead exiting the room as requested.
Helena slipped under the water, feeling the warmth of it against her skin. She closed her eyes tightly, fighting back the tears. Her head ached from all of the alcohol and her stomach was rolling. She felt sick.
Sick of everything. Harley and the whole hero business.
She stumbled out of the shower and just barely managed to get to the toilet before she started to vomit. Several minutes passed before she rolled to the ground, parched and exhausted.
After a few seconds she finally found her feet again. She rinsed her mouth out with water and then stepped into her bedroom. She dressed quickly, yanking on boxers and a tee shirt. She slipped into the kitchen and headed straight towards her makeshift bar that was in the corner of the room.
Just before she could lift up a bottle of Jack Daniels, Dinah placed a hand over hers. "Helena, no. You've had enough."
Helena's eyes dilated into cat's eyes. "Leave me alone."
"Why are you doing this?"
Helena knew she couldn't blame the blond girl, but she wanted be alone. She put her hands over the small bar and lowering her head she whispered: "You did enough, let me alone."
Dinah felt sadness for her. "I read the letter..."
Helena brushed her hand through her hair. She grabbed at the bottle of JD and headed back towards her bedroom. "Go away," she muttered behind her.
Dinah felt the anger surge through her. Reaching out towards her friend, she snatched the bottle away from the brunette. She threw it to the ground, victorious when it smashes into several large pieces of glass, the brown liquid seeping into the carpet.
Helena spun hard on her and advanced just as quickly. She took Dinah by the collar of her shirt and lifted her up in the air, snarling in rage. "Don't piss me off kid. I'm really not in the mood for you tonight."
"Helena, stop."
"Leave me the hell alone. Get out of here," Helena ordered as she released Dinah. She crossed back over to the bar but the blonde pushed herself in the way. Helena gave her violent shove, knocking Dinah back towards the kitchen table. She stumbled over the chair, just barely managing to keep her balance. She stood back up and shoved herself into Helena, tackling her against the cold tile.
"I'm not going to let you do this!" Dinah yelled. "You're going to kill yourself."
The two girls started to struggle, each looking for an opening in the others' defenses. Helena felt something in her snap and she lashed out with a vicious cross to Dinah's left cheek. Then she used her feet to shove the blonde away from her and she stumbled to her feet. Dinah placed a hand to her lip. She could taste blood in her mouth. She wiped it away with the back of her hand and then charged up at Helena who had recovered a new bottle from the bar. She grabbed her around the waist and slamming her back against the ground. Helena growled as the bottle rolled from her fingers and stopped under the table.
Dinah pulled her fist back and cracked Helena across the jaw. "Stop this," she hissed. Dinah pushed at her shoulders, holding her against the ground.
Helena spun away from her. Blinded by both her anger and the alcohol, she lunged out and viciously slapped at Dinah. Taking her by the blouse, she threw her against the small wood bar breaking it. Part of the heavy furniture crumbled over Dinah, pinning her legs beneath her. Helena jumped atop the wooden shambles, pushing all of her weight down on Dinah. The blonde screamed in pain as a sickening crack echoed through the room.
Helena reacted in horror, quickly retreating from her friend and stumbling back against the door. Her eyes widened as she surveyed the damaged kitchen and her fallen friend. Dinah was lying on the ground, bent over in agony and bleeding from a nasty cut on her lip.
"My leg!" Dinah cried clenching her teeth.
"Oh God, Dinah, I'm sorry," Helena stammered, feeling her stomach roll again.
Dinah tried to push the furniture off of her but it was far too heavy and she was far too unsteady. Helena bounded over to her, ignorant of her own dizziness and began to shove the broken wood off of her.
"You're such a fucking idiot," Dinah cried out, her face quenched in pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Helena knelt down beside her and with a shaking hand reached out for Dinah. She ran her fingers over the ankle that Dinah was holding. The blonde jumped under the contact. Helena grimaced, immediately furious with herself for losing control. It was one thing for her to do things to herself but she'd allowed the anger and alcohol to again hurt someone close to her. That was unacceptable.
"I think it's sprained," Helena muttered, more hopeful than sure. "We should get it wrapped to slow the swelling."
"Why the hell did you have to jump on it?" Dinah snapped, clenching her teeth against the pain. She took a deep breath. "It feels like it's broken."
Helena shook her head desperately. "I don't know. We...we should get you checked out. Hospital?" She immediately dismissed the idea. There would be too many questions and likely unwanted blood tests. "We should get you back to the Clocktower so Barbara can check your ankle out."
Dinah glanced up at Helena and noticed that the fog seemed to have lifted. She took a deep breath, wincing in pain. "Hel," she started. "It's not your fault what happened to Wade. Harley is trying to hurt you again. You and Barbara."
Helena shook her head. "You don't understand."
"I understand you. Barbara understands you. We know you. Stop trying to hurt yourself, Wade's death wasn't your fault! This is exactly what Harley wants. She's trying to destroy you." She paused for effect. "Don't give her the pleasure. Don't let her win."
"Please, I don't want talk about this." Helena said in low voice. She didn't know how to face the fact that Harley was free. She didn't quite know how to deal with the reality of her own dark sins. All that happened to Barbara and Dinah and Wade. It was all about to come flying back at her. She bent down and slipped a hand under Dinah, lifting her into the air. "Let's get back to the Clocktower."
Helena sighed and slipped through the door, heading towards the stairs to her apartment. She stopped when her eyes lit on a white envelope sitting on the counter. The contrast between it and all the clutter was astonishing. She picked it up and turned it over in her hands, wondering if it was some kind of rude message from Leonard.
It wasn't.
"You put the knife in Barbara's back, I just pushed it in further. Really how could she ever forgive your betrayal? You stole her the only chance to be a woman again. Thanks for helping me to kill sweet Wade Brixton. Your favorite psychiatrist, Dr. Quinzell."
Helena felt the anger growing inside her. She picked up one of the chairs that was on the ground and smashed it against the bar, splintering it into a thousand pieces. "Dammit!" she barked. She started to pace the floor, her hands curled into hard fists. Harley had been there; she knew where she lived; she knew all about her, about Barbara, Dinah and the Clocktower. And all of it thanks to her and her big mouth. She kicked wildly at another chair on the floor, enjoying the sound of it cracking. She hopped behind the bar, landing on the balls of her feet.
She pulled a bottle of scotch from the rack and quickly poured herself a shot. She drained it quickly and the immediately made another. She knocked that one back as well, feeling the hot liquid burn as it coursed down her throat. She prepared herself another shot. Her mind was whirling, spinning with anger. All she could think of was that fateful night six months earlier. The night when she had let them all down.
Barbara. Dinah. Alfred. Reese.
Wade.
She took the next swig and filled the glass again. It burned, but not enough to make her stop. Not enough to calm the nightmares and emotions.
Wade.
God! Wade.
His death and the effect it had had on Barbara was like a knife right to the heart. It burned like hell even as it cut deeper. She drained the shot and immediately refilled it. A voice in her head screamed at her to stop or at least to slow down. She ignored it, the anger and hatred continuing to build. She wanted to cry but the tears refused to come. Instead it was like a heavy wall of guilt rested squarely on her shoulders, pushing her down into the ground. She could barely breathe beneath the weight but that hardly seemed important.
She had trusted Dr. Quinzell and through that she had betrayed her family and friends and cost them all so dearly.
She drank the next shot. She didn't want to think but her mind betrayed her; she hated that. She just wanted to black everything out but his face hovered in her mind.
Wade.
And then she saw Barbara's tears. Her anger. Her heartbreak.
Helena lifted the glass to her mouth again and let the liquid flow down her throat.
It wasn't burning as much anymore.
*****
Dinah walked into the bar, marveling at the destruction. She hadn't been there for the fight on the night before but she'd heard that it had been quite a scene. She moved a broken chair out of the way with her foot and stepped towards the stairs. She was a bit amazed to see that any of the lights downstairs were still on. Even if dimly so.
She hoped that Barbara was right and that Helena really had returned home, it made it easier to keep an eye on her. Now, looking back at what she had seen in the garage, it occurred to Dinah that Helena had already been struggling with the guilt and anger even then.
Dinah placed a foot on the stairs, her momentum carrying her upwards. She stopped however when she heard the sound of something rolling. It sounded like glass. She dropped back down and moved around to the opposite side of the bar.
Her eyes widened in horror at what she saw. Helena was sitting on the floor with her back resting against one of the wood cabinet doors and her legs spread; her head falling over her chest and an almost empty shot glass in her right hand. Dinah saw the scotch bottle with just a bit of liquid left inside of it next to her leg.
She shook her head. "Oh God! Helena!"
She kneeled down next to Helena. The first thing she noticed was the brunette was clutching a wrinkled piece of paper in her left hand. She took the letter from her inebriated friend and read it. Then she whistled in frustration. "Damn." She moved the bottle away from Helena, her eyes bulging when she caught sight of another empty bottle lying a few feet away. "Helena, God, how much did you drink?"
"Mmm?" the girl mumbled.
Dinah placed a finger under her chin and raised her head. "Helena came on, wake up." She wondered idly if she should call for an ambulance. But then again, could metas actually get alcohol poisoning? And more to the point could Helena who always drank like a fish?
Helena moved her hand back and grumbled; she tried to lie on her side but Dinah held her. "Ah no." she said holding her "You can't sleep here." She put her arm around Helena's back and helped her to stand up. Helena protested but Dinah began to walk her to the stairs. "God! You smell awful."
The brunette mumbled something incomprehensible. Dinah yanked her up the stairs, struggling against Helena's nearly dead-weight. After a few long minutes she was finally standing in the hallway in front of Helena's apartment door. She slipped her hands in front of Helena and moved them into her jacket pockets.
"Where are your keys?" Dinah asked. Helena leaned over her with all her weight and Dinah almost fell. She moved the drunk woman against the wall holding her with her left hand while she looked for the keys. "Helena, they're not here! Where are the keys?"
"Mmm?" the brunette mumbled.
"The keys, I need to open your apartment."
"Its open..."
Dinah sighed and opened the door. She put Helena's arm again over her shoulder and walked in. "Damn you're heavy. What have you been eating lately?" she quipped, knowing full well that her friend was in extremely good shape. They stumbled through the apartment, Dinah tugging at her, until they reached the bedroom in the back. The blonde released her arms, allowing Helena to drop against the king sized mattress. Dinah sat down beside her and started to remove Helena's leather overcoat.
"Helena you need a shower. You reek of alcohol."
The brunette opened her eyes and looked around "Where am I?"
"In your room." Dinah took off her belt.
"What are you doing? Why are you undressing me?" Helena leaned closer to her, her words slurring. "Something you want to tell me?"
Dinah chose to ignore her. "You need a shower," she replied.
"Hey... hey..." Helena slapped her hands away. "Don't touch. I don't need a damn shower. I'm fine."
"Hel, you're drunk. You're falling down nasty ass stinking drunk," Dinah shot back. She yanked the belt loose and dropped it on the ground.
"I want to sleep," Helena groaned, moving away from her. She crawled over her mattress and sunk against it, clutching her pillow to her. She looked like a small child trying to seek comfort in an inanimate object.
It would have been adorable if it weren't so pathetic.
Dinah grabbed at her and yanked her back up. "Nope. You need a shower first big girl. We need to get you at least somewhat back to your senses." She reached across Helena and started to unbuckle her leather pants.
Helena grabbed onto the pillow with one hand and shoved away at Dinah with the other. She slid a hand over the buckle of her pants. "Dinah, no!"
"Helena, dammit, stop being such a child," Dinah growled at her and she yanked the brunette back towards her. It was like some obscene form of tug of war.
Helena again pushed her away, crawling back towards the top of the bed. She dug her face into the pillow. Dinah stood up from the bed, shaking her head. She crossed into the bathroom and turned on the show. She yanked off her jacket, shoes and socks. She put a hand under the shower head to test the water.
Cold. Very cold.
Perfect.
She slipped back into the bedroom and went towards Helena who was practically asleep. Sliding an arm around her waist she hefted her into the air, ignoring the gyrations of the brunette as she tried to escape.
"You're taking a shower and that's final," Dinah growled as she dropped Helena under the water.
The reaction was instant as Helena cried out and tried to get away but ended up slipping and slamming her butt against the tile. She tried to climb out the tub but Dinah held on to her, keeping her under the water.
"Dinah let me go!" Helena yelled as she tried to kick out. Water splattered underneath her, causing her to again lose her balance and thud to the ground.
"Wake up!" Dinah shouted pushing her down. She turned the showerhead towards Helena, ensuring that the brunette was fully soaked.
After a few moments of struggling Helena finally managed to shove Dinah away from her. Sputtering she rolled herself out of the tub and onto the bathroom floor.
"Damn! It's cold! What the hell are you thinking?" she shouted to the blond girl.
"I'm trying to keep you from passing out from alcohol poisoning," Dinah snapped back at her. "Now get in the damn shower." She reached over and grabbed a towel off the rack. She wiped her face clean of water and then bent down and turned some hot water on. She figured that her point had been made.
She was wrong.
"No," Helena shot back as she snagged another towel and started trying to dry herself off.
"Get in the shower or I swear to God..." Dinah stopped and took a deep breath. "Next time I won't be so nice."
"I'm shaking," Helena taunted. "Come on kid, bring it on."
"You know what Helena?" Dinah said with a sigh. "You really are an ugly drunk." She put her hands out flat in front of her and closed her eyes, focusing all of her telekinetic powers. Helena jerked backwards, as if held by invisible hands. Her body flew up over the side of the tub and slammed against the shower wall. Helena was furious but badly disorientated from all the alcohol and Dinah was able to hold in her place with little effort.
"Fine, fine!" Helena finally cried out. She sagged against the wall. Dinah released her hold on the brunette, which caused Helena to stumble a few steps. Muttering in anger Helena began to tug at her leather pants. "Fuck," she cursed as the pants stuck to her like a second skin.
"What's wrong?" Dinah looked at her friend from the doorway. She continued to dry her hair, annoyed by how wet she was.
"I can't take a shower with my pants on," Helena snapped back. She pushed herself up against the shower wall and continued to yank at her pants. She topped briefly, bring a hand up to her head to stop everything from spinning around her like a crazy top.
"Okay," Dinah said simply, her lip lifted in amusement. "Then take them off."
Helena stepped out the shower soaked and dripping water. She balanced herself against the wall and again tried to yank at them. Finally she looked up with oddest look in her eyes. "I...uh...well...I think they're stuck."
"How do pants get stuck?" Dinah asked raising an eyebrow.
"I take it that you've never tried to remove wet leather pants before," Helena growled.
"Can't say as I have," Dinah smirked. She crossed over to Helena. "Here, let me help."
Helena held up a hand. "I can do it myself," she gritted out. She jumped twice in the air, trying to force the slick leather pants down. Her head spun but she ignored it.
"Fine," Dinah said with amusement. "You can do it yourself." She backed off and stood watching, her smile growing. It almost felt like poetic justice.
"Dammit," Helena cried out. The alcohol in her blood was starting to burn and her stomach was growing more and more queasy by the moment. She jerked hard at her waistband, her thumb slipping beneath the fabric.
"Hel," Dinah started. "Why so much?"
"It's a free country," Helena grunted. "And you're not my mother."
"And you're still a mean drunk," Dinah sighed. "You need coffee." She turned and walked back to the front of the apartment, towards the kitchen. She bent over the Mr. Coffee and turned it on. A loud thud from the bathroom alerted her back to Helena. Dropping the filter that she had been holding, she ran back towards the bathroom.
She almost laughed when she saw Helena lying on her back, the leather pants around her knees. Dinah started towards her but Helena held up a hand to halt her. "I can handle this."
"Sure," Dinah quipped. "You're doing a great job so far." She leaned against the wall to watch the show. Five minutes later she was in the same position and Helena was still struggling with the pants.
"Dammit, I'm drunk and I'm stuck," Helena sulked, falling still.
"You look like a big black worm," Dinah grinned.
"Funny, help me."
Dinah kneeled down in front of Helena and pulled at her pants. "They really are stuck," she said with a slight chuckle.
"I told you so," Helena grunted. "And it's not funny."
Dinah held Helena's legs with her arms. "Oh it's really funny, trust me." She scowled as she examined the stuck leather. "Maybe we need to cut them off."
"Forget it," Helena snapped. "I'm drunk, not stupid. And I'm not losing a pair of pants. Do you know how expensive they were?"
"No," Dinah admitted. She yanked once more and the pants finally slid down Helena, leaving her naked from the waist down save her g-string. "Now get in the shower. Let's not fight about this again, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it; Dinah's on a power high. Don't think I won't remember this," Helena grunted. Then she waved her hand dismissively. "Get out. I need to get undressed."
Dinah grinned at her but remained silent, instead exiting the room as requested.
Helena slipped under the water, feeling the warmth of it against her skin. She closed her eyes tightly, fighting back the tears. Her head ached from all of the alcohol and her stomach was rolling. She felt sick.
Sick of everything. Harley and the whole hero business.
She stumbled out of the shower and just barely managed to get to the toilet before she started to vomit. Several minutes passed before she rolled to the ground, parched and exhausted.
After a few seconds she finally found her feet again. She rinsed her mouth out with water and then stepped into her bedroom. She dressed quickly, yanking on boxers and a tee shirt. She slipped into the kitchen and headed straight towards her makeshift bar that was in the corner of the room.
Just before she could lift up a bottle of Jack Daniels, Dinah placed a hand over hers. "Helena, no. You've had enough."
Helena's eyes dilated into cat's eyes. "Leave me alone."
"Why are you doing this?"
Helena knew she couldn't blame the blond girl, but she wanted be alone. She put her hands over the small bar and lowering her head she whispered: "You did enough, let me alone."
Dinah felt sadness for her. "I read the letter..."
Helena brushed her hand through her hair. She grabbed at the bottle of JD and headed back towards her bedroom. "Go away," she muttered behind her.
Dinah felt the anger surge through her. Reaching out towards her friend, she snatched the bottle away from the brunette. She threw it to the ground, victorious when it smashes into several large pieces of glass, the brown liquid seeping into the carpet.
Helena spun hard on her and advanced just as quickly. She took Dinah by the collar of her shirt and lifted her up in the air, snarling in rage. "Don't piss me off kid. I'm really not in the mood for you tonight."
"Helena, stop."
"Leave me the hell alone. Get out of here," Helena ordered as she released Dinah. She crossed back over to the bar but the blonde pushed herself in the way. Helena gave her violent shove, knocking Dinah back towards the kitchen table. She stumbled over the chair, just barely managing to keep her balance. She stood back up and shoved herself into Helena, tackling her against the cold tile.
"I'm not going to let you do this!" Dinah yelled. "You're going to kill yourself."
The two girls started to struggle, each looking for an opening in the others' defenses. Helena felt something in her snap and she lashed out with a vicious cross to Dinah's left cheek. Then she used her feet to shove the blonde away from her and she stumbled to her feet. Dinah placed a hand to her lip. She could taste blood in her mouth. She wiped it away with the back of her hand and then charged up at Helena who had recovered a new bottle from the bar. She grabbed her around the waist and slamming her back against the ground. Helena growled as the bottle rolled from her fingers and stopped under the table.
Dinah pulled her fist back and cracked Helena across the jaw. "Stop this," she hissed. Dinah pushed at her shoulders, holding her against the ground.
Helena spun away from her. Blinded by both her anger and the alcohol, she lunged out and viciously slapped at Dinah. Taking her by the blouse, she threw her against the small wood bar breaking it. Part of the heavy furniture crumbled over Dinah, pinning her legs beneath her. Helena jumped atop the wooden shambles, pushing all of her weight down on Dinah. The blonde screamed in pain as a sickening crack echoed through the room.
Helena reacted in horror, quickly retreating from her friend and stumbling back against the door. Her eyes widened as she surveyed the damaged kitchen and her fallen friend. Dinah was lying on the ground, bent over in agony and bleeding from a nasty cut on her lip.
"My leg!" Dinah cried clenching her teeth.
"Oh God, Dinah, I'm sorry," Helena stammered, feeling her stomach roll again.
Dinah tried to push the furniture off of her but it was far too heavy and she was far too unsteady. Helena bounded over to her, ignorant of her own dizziness and began to shove the broken wood off of her.
"You're such a fucking idiot," Dinah cried out, her face quenched in pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Helena knelt down beside her and with a shaking hand reached out for Dinah. She ran her fingers over the ankle that Dinah was holding. The blonde jumped under the contact. Helena grimaced, immediately furious with herself for losing control. It was one thing for her to do things to herself but she'd allowed the anger and alcohol to again hurt someone close to her. That was unacceptable.
"I think it's sprained," Helena muttered, more hopeful than sure. "We should get it wrapped to slow the swelling."
"Why the hell did you have to jump on it?" Dinah snapped, clenching her teeth against the pain. She took a deep breath. "It feels like it's broken."
Helena shook her head desperately. "I don't know. We...we should get you checked out. Hospital?" She immediately dismissed the idea. There would be too many questions and likely unwanted blood tests. "We should get you back to the Clocktower so Barbara can check your ankle out."
Dinah glanced up at Helena and noticed that the fog seemed to have lifted. She took a deep breath, wincing in pain. "Hel," she started. "It's not your fault what happened to Wade. Harley is trying to hurt you again. You and Barbara."
Helena shook her head. "You don't understand."
"I understand you. Barbara understands you. We know you. Stop trying to hurt yourself, Wade's death wasn't your fault! This is exactly what Harley wants. She's trying to destroy you." She paused for effect. "Don't give her the pleasure. Don't let her win."
"Please, I don't want talk about this." Helena said in low voice. She didn't know how to face the fact that Harley was free. She didn't quite know how to deal with the reality of her own dark sins. All that happened to Barbara and Dinah and Wade. It was all about to come flying back at her. She bent down and slipped a hand under Dinah, lifting her into the air. "Let's get back to the Clocktower."