Night.
Cold.
She circled behind him, her eyes narrowed and dangerous. He could feel her in his blood and every bell in his head started ringing. He turned slightly towards her and swallowed hard, his slate blue eyes widening pathetically. He shook his head like he was trying to find a way to explain his actions.
Finally, realizing that he couldn't, he tried to jump past her. She stuck out her foot and he crumbled over it. He tried to stand but she buried her knee into his gut. He grunted loudly, cursing at her as he fell.
"This is no challenge," she said dryly as she tossed him onto his back and smacked him hard across the face. He groaned and spun away from her; dropping the brown paper bag he had been carrying. A few twenty-dollar bills spilled out of the sack and floated into the air, drifting down the street.
"It's just something to help you blow off steam," Barbara insisted. "I need you focused. If something is wrong with Reese, I need you thinking clearly."
"I'm always thinking clearly," Helena cracked with a devious grin as she kicked the thug back to the ground. She placed her foot onto his chest, watching with amusement as he shoved up against her. He tried to grab at her foot to throw her off balance but she kicked his hand away and then smacked him in the jaw with the toe of her boot. He grunted and fell back, snarling at her. Or at least attempting to.
Barbara snorted loudly. "I'm gonna assume you're joking."
"Good assumption," Helena replied dryly. "You know, if this was supposed to help me blow off steam, couldn't I have at least gotten someone who could go a few rounds with me? This loser looks like...I don't know...I don't have the words..."
"That's a first," Barbara replied, typing away in the background. "Okay, then if you're all wrapped up there, why don't you come back here. We need to regroup and see if we can figure out what the next step is."
"Copy that," Helena replied. She reached down and picked up the thug. She held him up in the air, shaking him. "Listen to me, I don't have time to gift-wrap you up for the cops so I'm gonna let you go. Cross me again and the only green you'll ever see again..."
"Okay, okay," he said quickly. "I get it."
"Good," she smiled. She released him and he fell. He instantly put his hand to his bald head, rubbing at the non-existent hair. He gazed up at her in fear and then jumped to his feet and stumbled away. "Where have all the fun baddies gone?" she quipped.
"I might have an answer for that," a voice said from behind her. She snapped around quickly, annoyed. She'd been feeling a strange buzzing for several minutes but it hadn't seem either imminent nor threatening so she'd let it pass. She wondered if that had been a bad move,
"Huntress?" Barbara called out. "Who is that?"
She pressed her hand against her ear. "Hang on Oracle, might have a situation." She narrowed her eyes as the man stepped into the light. "Wait a minute, I know you..."
"Boyd," he said to her, his voice soft. He was maybe six feet tall with wavy brown hair. Not very good looking but not a dog either. His personality was his major malfunction in that apparently he lacked one of any interest. "I'm a bartender from Crimson."
"Right," she said with a nod. "What can I do for you."
"Huntress, be careful," Barbara warned.
"I can help you I think," he said, keeping his distance. "I know who you are and I know what you do."
Helena lifted an eyebrow. "Oh really?"
"Huntress is what they call you I think. I know you as Helena Kyle."
"And I know you as the guy I said no to a few weeks ago," Helena said dryly. "What's your point?"
He held up his hand as if to signify that he was no threat to her. "Whoa, I'm not here to cause you pain. Look, as a bartender, you should know this, Kyle, we hear things...things others don't. You don't wear a mask....it's not all that hard for people to figure out you have a secret identity."
"That's what I've been saying," Barbara quipped.
"Hello? Working here. Do you mind?" Helena replied, rolling her eyes. She was at the moment more annoyed that her mentor had been supplied new ammo for their on-going costume debate than she was concerned about the man speaking to her. He was of average size but she figured if need be she could take him easily.
"Sorry," Oracle laughed.
"Uh huh," Helena shot back. To Boyd she said, "Go on, I'm listening."
"Look, there's some crazy broad out there right now. Got a major woody for you," Boyd said, quirking his lip.
"That's an understatement," Helena drawled, sarcasm dripping from her words. She changed her posture so as to let Boyd know that she was growing bored with him.
"Anyways, people tend to die when some of these crazies get rolling. I still remember what the Joker did to the city," Boyd said slowly. "I don't want to see that happen again."
"Okay," Helena replied. "So, why are you here? I'm still not getting it."
"You can stop her and I know how," Boyd informed her.
"You do?" Helena asked, incredulous. "Really? Oh by all means, go on."
"You don't believe me," he said, dropping his voice.
"No," she admitted. "But try me anyways."
"Nice Huntress, good way to piss someone off in a hurry," Barbara sighed. "I don't have a police record for uh, Boyd Kramer. He's clean."
"Figured as much," Helena replied. Then she looked at Boyd and made an impatient gesture, urging him to continue.
"Tomorrow night, there's gonna be a big meeting down at the warehouse of 7th and MacAfee. All the major remaining mob bosses and anyone who's ever been something in the crime world. Harley, I think that's her name, she's bringing them all together."
"Why?"
"To kill them," he said simply.
"How do you know this?"
"That guy that escaped from the bus last night. Torch I think is what they call him," Boyd replied. "He paid me to deliver a few messages. I got some guys I work with who deal a little crack and work with some of the bosses. I uh, overheard him talking on his cell."
"Really? Where?"
Boyd made a face of disgust. "In the bathroom."
"Men," Helena sighed. "Okay, suppose I'm biting. What time is the meeting?"
Boyd reached into his jacket and yanked out a plain white envelope. "It's all in here. I uh, grabbed the one that was supposed to be sent to some dude named Raver."
"Patrick Raver," Barbara said over the comm. "Runs a gambling ring on the side of the town. Pretty small-time."
"Thanks for the update," Helena grinned. She took the envelope from Boyd and opened it. Then she laughed. "Oracle, you've got to see this, this invitation is written in calligraphy."
"How elegant," Barbara snorted.
"How Harley," Helena put in. Then she looked at Boyd. "Okay, I'll look into this."
"Good," he said, stepping back and away from her. He pushed his hands into his pockets and turned his back. Then he stopped and looked back at her. "Hey, no hard feelings and all."
"About what?" she asked, still peering down at the strange invitation.
"About me turning you down," he said simply.
She snorted loudly and derisively. "As if." Shaking her head she looked up towards the sky. She chuckled and then leaped, soaring several feet before she slapped down onto a rooftop. "Oracle, I'm coming in."
"Copy that, see you back at base," the redhead replied over the comm.
Helena gazed back down at the alley for a few seconds, watching as Boyd disappeared. Her instincts were on edge and she still didn't quite believe his words but they intrigued her just the same. And no matter what, they got her closer to dealing with Harley.
Dealing with Wade.
Dealing with Reese.
She jammed the invitation into the back of her leather pants and then took off running towards the adjoining rooftop, enjoying the feel of the air whipping against her cheeks.
It felt sane.
*****
Boyd slipped into the alley and turned towards a brown door that led into the back of one of the shops. He stepped into the room and looked around. "Torch?"
"Oh he had to go," Harley said, coming out from the front. "He had errands to run." She crossed over to him. "You did well." She ran a hand over his cheek, delighting in the tremors she felt beneath her fingers.
"Th...thank you," he stammered. "Um, can I get paid?"
"So impatient," she sighed. She stepped away from him. "That's what the problem with today's youth is, they don't want to wait for anything. You know they have a term for that..." "I'm sure they do," he said softly, completely creeped out. He had taken the job as a way to earn a few quick dollars. He'd been working for the bosses for a long while and it was just the best way to survive in New Gotham. Watching the blonde psycho wander aimlessly around the room, he was beginning to wonder if maybe he was wrong.
"But you did do a good job and you should be rewarded," Harley admitted. She moved towards him and smiled. She leaned closer to him and he found himself entranced by her eyes. A moment later they went black and he tried to retreat. Tried and failed. "Will you do anything I ask?"
"Of course," he replied, almost dreamily.
"Oh Torchy," she called out.
"Boss?" the big man said, coming out from the back. He sneered when he looked at the hypnotized bartender.
"Give him your gun," she ordered.
Torch frowned but did as he was asked. He reached into the back of his jeans and pulled out a .45. He offered it to Boyd.
"Take the gun," she said to the bartender. "Put it in your mouth."
The kid obeyed, taking the pistol and sliding it into his open mouth. He continued staring at her, his eyes blank and aimless.
"Now shoot," she said softly.
His eyes seemed to become aware for the briefest of moments but that passed in a flash when he yanked the trigger. A boom erupted in the room and then a wet sound followed by what smelled like burning flesh.
Harley clapped her hands. "Oh beautiful."
"Messy," Torch sighed. "Very messy." He reached down and extracted his gun, glaring at the carnage. "And my gun is ruined."
She patted his arm comfortingly. "Oh I'll get you another." Then she smiled. "Time to go. The trap has been set."
"You think she'll fall for it?"
"Of course she will," Harley assured him. "She's a hero. Heroes always fall for it. It's their way." She laughed again. "It's going to be so much fun."
Then she grabbed his arm and led him towards the street, laughing all the way to the truck. He'd always known that she was a little insane but now he was certain that she was quite mad.
*****
The blonde glanced up from her homework when she heard the hard knock on her door. She wrinkled her brow slightly, curiosity overtaking her slim features. The sound was too hard to be Barbara or Alfred, which meant that it could only be Helena. She pushed herself up and said softly, "Come in." She adjusted her wounded foot so that it was prominently displayed on the mound of pillows at the end of the mattress.
"Hey kid," Helena said gruffly as she moved slightly inside the door. She fidgeted nervously, shifting from foot to foot. Her leather pants were dripping a little bit of water and her hair was messy. The storm outside was getting worse and Helena looked like a cat that had been stuck in it.
"Hey," Dinah said lightly, trying to act like she didn't care what her brunette friend had to say. She rather enjoyed how uncomfortable the typically cool and confident Huntress looked. It was a welcome departure from the norm.
"How's your foot?" Helena asked, taking a few steps into the room. She motioned towards the bed. Dinah nodded and Helena seated herself at the end of it, folding her hands into her lap.
"Hurts," Dinah replied noncommittally. "So, how did your patrol go?"
"Hm? Oh, not sure yet."
"What's that mean?"
Helena frowned. "I don't know yet. We may have gotten a tip on Harley's intentions but I'm just not sure we should trust it just yet. Barbara's checking in to it."
"That's good," Dinah replied coolly. She glanced down at her hands. "So uh, what can I do for you?"
"Look," Helena said, blowing out air between her teeth. "I just...you know..."
Dinah grinned at her. "I don't know."
Helena rolled her eyes. "Come on, you know."
"I said I didn't."
"Do you have to make this difficult?"
"Uh huh. Come on, Helena, say the words. You can do it."
"Bite me."
Dinah grinned at her, her previous irritation completely gone now. "Thanks, I'll pass. Come on..."
"Oh fine, I'm sorry. Okay, I'm sorry."
Dinah laughed. "You're forgiven. Now could you kindly stop being a pain in the ass at every interval?"
"Keep it up," Helena rumbled, her eyes dancing. She shook her head. "No seriously, I am sorry. I guess I've just been all over the place lately."
"You kind of have your reasons," Dinah admitted. She reached across and squeezed Helena's hand. "But the Reese thing, I agree with Barbara, it's not something he would do. He loves you. He wouldn't do this to you."
"Okay," Helena said, offering her a small smile. She could feel the old waves of discomfort crashing through her but she choked them back. After all she'd put Barbara and Dinah through, they both deserved more than just a wall of ice. "Look I just wanted to..."
"Thank you," Dinah said softly. "It means a lot."
"Good," Helena replied, swallowing thickly. She made her way to the door. "G'night."
"Night Helena," Dinah yawned. She waited until the door had closed and then fell back against the pillows.
The clock read three in the morning.
*****
"I'm not sure about this," Barbara admitted, fidgeting a bit in her chair. She was seated in front the Delphi system wearing a pair of jeans and a wifebeater. Her hair was back in a loose ponytail and she looked like she'd been working out. Which of course she had been for the last several hours.
Helena frowned. "Can't say as I like that. You're having second thoughts?"
"It could be a trap," Barbara said, glancing down at the paper invitation. There was black writing on it, all very elegant. She ran her fingers over the deep indents that the pen had made. Delphi had matched the writing to Harley's.
"Could be?" Helena snorted. "Probably is. Doesn't mean we still shouldn't find out what she's up to. And what she's done to Reese."
"Helena, I don't like this..."
"Look, it's your call, Barbara," Helena replied, stepping towards her mentor. She held up her palms. "You don't want me to go and I don't."
"That's new," Barbara said, quirking her lip.
"Hey, I'm trying the whole team player thing."
"That's a first."
Helena shrugged. "I'm a cat that can change her stripes."
Barbara sighed. "Helena, come here." She motioned towards the table in front of her.
The brunette lifted an eyebrow, surprise in her expression. She cautiously approached the table. "What I'd do? I thought that was what you wanted to hear."
"It would be if I thought that was you. I don't want you to change your stripes. You wouldn't be the Helena I love if you did. I just want you to stop and think on occasion. Okay?"
"Okay," Helena said slowly.
"Good, now wear your coat. It's raining outside and I still don't want you catching pneumonia."
"Yes mom," Helena grinned. Then she cocked her head. "So I'm going then?"
"You're right, we need to know what Harley is up to. But listen to me, you're not to engage unless absolutely necessary."
"Right," Helena agreed, yanking on her overcoat. She was wearing her typical tight leather pants. They were as always the easiest to move in.
"Helena, I'm serious. No engagement. I know you want to know what's going on with Reese but I can promise you, Harley knows that too. She will use it against you if you let her."
"Okay," Helena said, swallowing. Then she wrinkled her brow. "You really think she has Reese under her control?"
"Three days and he hasn't shown up for work. Neither has his partner. I checked the NGPD database this morning and there's no update on their status. I believe a full on search has been initiated. So no, I have no doubt of it," Barbara assured her. She paused. "His life is in danger every moment he's with her, we both know this, but I need you to clear your mind and think."
"Don't worry," Helena said softly. "But I am bringing him home."
"Think positive," Barbara grinned at her. She glanced up at the clock and sighed. "Dinah should have been home from school four hours ago."
"What's wrong Barbara? Worried?" Helena asked with a laugh as she finished lacing up her boots.
"No, just having flashbacks to your high school days when I had no idea where the hell you were most of the night," Barbara replied with a loud snort.
Helena winked. "Dinah's a good girl."
"Uh huh and that's the only reason I haven't gone looking for her like I did you."
"Oh I was always good," Helena said, eyes twinkling. Then she shook her head. "Okay, meeting is in thirty minutes, I'm off."
"Be careful," Barbara insisted. "And keep your comm on."
Helena waved back at her and then strode into the elevator, leaving the redhead all alone in the massive Clocktower.
She took a deep breath and then expelled air out. She couldn't help but feel an insane sense of panic.
Something was going to go wrong.
Very very wrong.
"Huntress," Barbara said, pushing herself up to the mic. "Abort mission."
"What's wrong Oracle?" the brunette called back, sounding like she was running. She was probably leaping buildings.
Barbara paused briefly and frowned. Finally she said softly. "Nothing. Nothing. Just...just..."
"Be careful. Got it. Don't worry. Huntress out."
Barbara pursed her lips and stared at the LCD in front of her. Bright colors splashed towards her, showing her a map of the city.
It was all very calming.
Usually.
Tonight it was her own personal secluded hell.
Harley was free and Helena was headed right at her.
Right into the belly of the beast.
Cold.
She circled behind him, her eyes narrowed and dangerous. He could feel her in his blood and every bell in his head started ringing. He turned slightly towards her and swallowed hard, his slate blue eyes widening pathetically. He shook his head like he was trying to find a way to explain his actions.
Finally, realizing that he couldn't, he tried to jump past her. She stuck out her foot and he crumbled over it. He tried to stand but she buried her knee into his gut. He grunted loudly, cursing at her as he fell.
"This is no challenge," she said dryly as she tossed him onto his back and smacked him hard across the face. He groaned and spun away from her; dropping the brown paper bag he had been carrying. A few twenty-dollar bills spilled out of the sack and floated into the air, drifting down the street.
"It's just something to help you blow off steam," Barbara insisted. "I need you focused. If something is wrong with Reese, I need you thinking clearly."
"I'm always thinking clearly," Helena cracked with a devious grin as she kicked the thug back to the ground. She placed her foot onto his chest, watching with amusement as he shoved up against her. He tried to grab at her foot to throw her off balance but she kicked his hand away and then smacked him in the jaw with the toe of her boot. He grunted and fell back, snarling at her. Or at least attempting to.
Barbara snorted loudly. "I'm gonna assume you're joking."
"Good assumption," Helena replied dryly. "You know, if this was supposed to help me blow off steam, couldn't I have at least gotten someone who could go a few rounds with me? This loser looks like...I don't know...I don't have the words..."
"That's a first," Barbara replied, typing away in the background. "Okay, then if you're all wrapped up there, why don't you come back here. We need to regroup and see if we can figure out what the next step is."
"Copy that," Helena replied. She reached down and picked up the thug. She held him up in the air, shaking him. "Listen to me, I don't have time to gift-wrap you up for the cops so I'm gonna let you go. Cross me again and the only green you'll ever see again..."
"Okay, okay," he said quickly. "I get it."
"Good," she smiled. She released him and he fell. He instantly put his hand to his bald head, rubbing at the non-existent hair. He gazed up at her in fear and then jumped to his feet and stumbled away. "Where have all the fun baddies gone?" she quipped.
"I might have an answer for that," a voice said from behind her. She snapped around quickly, annoyed. She'd been feeling a strange buzzing for several minutes but it hadn't seem either imminent nor threatening so she'd let it pass. She wondered if that had been a bad move,
"Huntress?" Barbara called out. "Who is that?"
She pressed her hand against her ear. "Hang on Oracle, might have a situation." She narrowed her eyes as the man stepped into the light. "Wait a minute, I know you..."
"Boyd," he said to her, his voice soft. He was maybe six feet tall with wavy brown hair. Not very good looking but not a dog either. His personality was his major malfunction in that apparently he lacked one of any interest. "I'm a bartender from Crimson."
"Right," she said with a nod. "What can I do for you."
"Huntress, be careful," Barbara warned.
"I can help you I think," he said, keeping his distance. "I know who you are and I know what you do."
Helena lifted an eyebrow. "Oh really?"
"Huntress is what they call you I think. I know you as Helena Kyle."
"And I know you as the guy I said no to a few weeks ago," Helena said dryly. "What's your point?"
He held up his hand as if to signify that he was no threat to her. "Whoa, I'm not here to cause you pain. Look, as a bartender, you should know this, Kyle, we hear things...things others don't. You don't wear a mask....it's not all that hard for people to figure out you have a secret identity."
"That's what I've been saying," Barbara quipped.
"Hello? Working here. Do you mind?" Helena replied, rolling her eyes. She was at the moment more annoyed that her mentor had been supplied new ammo for their on-going costume debate than she was concerned about the man speaking to her. He was of average size but she figured if need be she could take him easily.
"Sorry," Oracle laughed.
"Uh huh," Helena shot back. To Boyd she said, "Go on, I'm listening."
"Look, there's some crazy broad out there right now. Got a major woody for you," Boyd said, quirking his lip.
"That's an understatement," Helena drawled, sarcasm dripping from her words. She changed her posture so as to let Boyd know that she was growing bored with him.
"Anyways, people tend to die when some of these crazies get rolling. I still remember what the Joker did to the city," Boyd said slowly. "I don't want to see that happen again."
"Okay," Helena replied. "So, why are you here? I'm still not getting it."
"You can stop her and I know how," Boyd informed her.
"You do?" Helena asked, incredulous. "Really? Oh by all means, go on."
"You don't believe me," he said, dropping his voice.
"No," she admitted. "But try me anyways."
"Nice Huntress, good way to piss someone off in a hurry," Barbara sighed. "I don't have a police record for uh, Boyd Kramer. He's clean."
"Figured as much," Helena replied. Then she looked at Boyd and made an impatient gesture, urging him to continue.
"Tomorrow night, there's gonna be a big meeting down at the warehouse of 7th and MacAfee. All the major remaining mob bosses and anyone who's ever been something in the crime world. Harley, I think that's her name, she's bringing them all together."
"Why?"
"To kill them," he said simply.
"How do you know this?"
"That guy that escaped from the bus last night. Torch I think is what they call him," Boyd replied. "He paid me to deliver a few messages. I got some guys I work with who deal a little crack and work with some of the bosses. I uh, overheard him talking on his cell."
"Really? Where?"
Boyd made a face of disgust. "In the bathroom."
"Men," Helena sighed. "Okay, suppose I'm biting. What time is the meeting?"
Boyd reached into his jacket and yanked out a plain white envelope. "It's all in here. I uh, grabbed the one that was supposed to be sent to some dude named Raver."
"Patrick Raver," Barbara said over the comm. "Runs a gambling ring on the side of the town. Pretty small-time."
"Thanks for the update," Helena grinned. She took the envelope from Boyd and opened it. Then she laughed. "Oracle, you've got to see this, this invitation is written in calligraphy."
"How elegant," Barbara snorted.
"How Harley," Helena put in. Then she looked at Boyd. "Okay, I'll look into this."
"Good," he said, stepping back and away from her. He pushed his hands into his pockets and turned his back. Then he stopped and looked back at her. "Hey, no hard feelings and all."
"About what?" she asked, still peering down at the strange invitation.
"About me turning you down," he said simply.
She snorted loudly and derisively. "As if." Shaking her head she looked up towards the sky. She chuckled and then leaped, soaring several feet before she slapped down onto a rooftop. "Oracle, I'm coming in."
"Copy that, see you back at base," the redhead replied over the comm.
Helena gazed back down at the alley for a few seconds, watching as Boyd disappeared. Her instincts were on edge and she still didn't quite believe his words but they intrigued her just the same. And no matter what, they got her closer to dealing with Harley.
Dealing with Wade.
Dealing with Reese.
She jammed the invitation into the back of her leather pants and then took off running towards the adjoining rooftop, enjoying the feel of the air whipping against her cheeks.
It felt sane.
*****
Boyd slipped into the alley and turned towards a brown door that led into the back of one of the shops. He stepped into the room and looked around. "Torch?"
"Oh he had to go," Harley said, coming out from the front. "He had errands to run." She crossed over to him. "You did well." She ran a hand over his cheek, delighting in the tremors she felt beneath her fingers.
"Th...thank you," he stammered. "Um, can I get paid?"
"So impatient," she sighed. She stepped away from him. "That's what the problem with today's youth is, they don't want to wait for anything. You know they have a term for that..." "I'm sure they do," he said softly, completely creeped out. He had taken the job as a way to earn a few quick dollars. He'd been working for the bosses for a long while and it was just the best way to survive in New Gotham. Watching the blonde psycho wander aimlessly around the room, he was beginning to wonder if maybe he was wrong.
"But you did do a good job and you should be rewarded," Harley admitted. She moved towards him and smiled. She leaned closer to him and he found himself entranced by her eyes. A moment later they went black and he tried to retreat. Tried and failed. "Will you do anything I ask?"
"Of course," he replied, almost dreamily.
"Oh Torchy," she called out.
"Boss?" the big man said, coming out from the back. He sneered when he looked at the hypnotized bartender.
"Give him your gun," she ordered.
Torch frowned but did as he was asked. He reached into the back of his jeans and pulled out a .45. He offered it to Boyd.
"Take the gun," she said to the bartender. "Put it in your mouth."
The kid obeyed, taking the pistol and sliding it into his open mouth. He continued staring at her, his eyes blank and aimless.
"Now shoot," she said softly.
His eyes seemed to become aware for the briefest of moments but that passed in a flash when he yanked the trigger. A boom erupted in the room and then a wet sound followed by what smelled like burning flesh.
Harley clapped her hands. "Oh beautiful."
"Messy," Torch sighed. "Very messy." He reached down and extracted his gun, glaring at the carnage. "And my gun is ruined."
She patted his arm comfortingly. "Oh I'll get you another." Then she smiled. "Time to go. The trap has been set."
"You think she'll fall for it?"
"Of course she will," Harley assured him. "She's a hero. Heroes always fall for it. It's their way." She laughed again. "It's going to be so much fun."
Then she grabbed his arm and led him towards the street, laughing all the way to the truck. He'd always known that she was a little insane but now he was certain that she was quite mad.
*****
The blonde glanced up from her homework when she heard the hard knock on her door. She wrinkled her brow slightly, curiosity overtaking her slim features. The sound was too hard to be Barbara or Alfred, which meant that it could only be Helena. She pushed herself up and said softly, "Come in." She adjusted her wounded foot so that it was prominently displayed on the mound of pillows at the end of the mattress.
"Hey kid," Helena said gruffly as she moved slightly inside the door. She fidgeted nervously, shifting from foot to foot. Her leather pants were dripping a little bit of water and her hair was messy. The storm outside was getting worse and Helena looked like a cat that had been stuck in it.
"Hey," Dinah said lightly, trying to act like she didn't care what her brunette friend had to say. She rather enjoyed how uncomfortable the typically cool and confident Huntress looked. It was a welcome departure from the norm.
"How's your foot?" Helena asked, taking a few steps into the room. She motioned towards the bed. Dinah nodded and Helena seated herself at the end of it, folding her hands into her lap.
"Hurts," Dinah replied noncommittally. "So, how did your patrol go?"
"Hm? Oh, not sure yet."
"What's that mean?"
Helena frowned. "I don't know yet. We may have gotten a tip on Harley's intentions but I'm just not sure we should trust it just yet. Barbara's checking in to it."
"That's good," Dinah replied coolly. She glanced down at her hands. "So uh, what can I do for you?"
"Look," Helena said, blowing out air between her teeth. "I just...you know..."
Dinah grinned at her. "I don't know."
Helena rolled her eyes. "Come on, you know."
"I said I didn't."
"Do you have to make this difficult?"
"Uh huh. Come on, Helena, say the words. You can do it."
"Bite me."
Dinah grinned at her, her previous irritation completely gone now. "Thanks, I'll pass. Come on..."
"Oh fine, I'm sorry. Okay, I'm sorry."
Dinah laughed. "You're forgiven. Now could you kindly stop being a pain in the ass at every interval?"
"Keep it up," Helena rumbled, her eyes dancing. She shook her head. "No seriously, I am sorry. I guess I've just been all over the place lately."
"You kind of have your reasons," Dinah admitted. She reached across and squeezed Helena's hand. "But the Reese thing, I agree with Barbara, it's not something he would do. He loves you. He wouldn't do this to you."
"Okay," Helena said, offering her a small smile. She could feel the old waves of discomfort crashing through her but she choked them back. After all she'd put Barbara and Dinah through, they both deserved more than just a wall of ice. "Look I just wanted to..."
"Thank you," Dinah said softly. "It means a lot."
"Good," Helena replied, swallowing thickly. She made her way to the door. "G'night."
"Night Helena," Dinah yawned. She waited until the door had closed and then fell back against the pillows.
The clock read three in the morning.
*****
"I'm not sure about this," Barbara admitted, fidgeting a bit in her chair. She was seated in front the Delphi system wearing a pair of jeans and a wifebeater. Her hair was back in a loose ponytail and she looked like she'd been working out. Which of course she had been for the last several hours.
Helena frowned. "Can't say as I like that. You're having second thoughts?"
"It could be a trap," Barbara said, glancing down at the paper invitation. There was black writing on it, all very elegant. She ran her fingers over the deep indents that the pen had made. Delphi had matched the writing to Harley's.
"Could be?" Helena snorted. "Probably is. Doesn't mean we still shouldn't find out what she's up to. And what she's done to Reese."
"Helena, I don't like this..."
"Look, it's your call, Barbara," Helena replied, stepping towards her mentor. She held up her palms. "You don't want me to go and I don't."
"That's new," Barbara said, quirking her lip.
"Hey, I'm trying the whole team player thing."
"That's a first."
Helena shrugged. "I'm a cat that can change her stripes."
Barbara sighed. "Helena, come here." She motioned towards the table in front of her.
The brunette lifted an eyebrow, surprise in her expression. She cautiously approached the table. "What I'd do? I thought that was what you wanted to hear."
"It would be if I thought that was you. I don't want you to change your stripes. You wouldn't be the Helena I love if you did. I just want you to stop and think on occasion. Okay?"
"Okay," Helena said slowly.
"Good, now wear your coat. It's raining outside and I still don't want you catching pneumonia."
"Yes mom," Helena grinned. Then she cocked her head. "So I'm going then?"
"You're right, we need to know what Harley is up to. But listen to me, you're not to engage unless absolutely necessary."
"Right," Helena agreed, yanking on her overcoat. She was wearing her typical tight leather pants. They were as always the easiest to move in.
"Helena, I'm serious. No engagement. I know you want to know what's going on with Reese but I can promise you, Harley knows that too. She will use it against you if you let her."
"Okay," Helena said, swallowing. Then she wrinkled her brow. "You really think she has Reese under her control?"
"Three days and he hasn't shown up for work. Neither has his partner. I checked the NGPD database this morning and there's no update on their status. I believe a full on search has been initiated. So no, I have no doubt of it," Barbara assured her. She paused. "His life is in danger every moment he's with her, we both know this, but I need you to clear your mind and think."
"Don't worry," Helena said softly. "But I am bringing him home."
"Think positive," Barbara grinned at her. She glanced up at the clock and sighed. "Dinah should have been home from school four hours ago."
"What's wrong Barbara? Worried?" Helena asked with a laugh as she finished lacing up her boots.
"No, just having flashbacks to your high school days when I had no idea where the hell you were most of the night," Barbara replied with a loud snort.
Helena winked. "Dinah's a good girl."
"Uh huh and that's the only reason I haven't gone looking for her like I did you."
"Oh I was always good," Helena said, eyes twinkling. Then she shook her head. "Okay, meeting is in thirty minutes, I'm off."
"Be careful," Barbara insisted. "And keep your comm on."
Helena waved back at her and then strode into the elevator, leaving the redhead all alone in the massive Clocktower.
She took a deep breath and then expelled air out. She couldn't help but feel an insane sense of panic.
Something was going to go wrong.
Very very wrong.
"Huntress," Barbara said, pushing herself up to the mic. "Abort mission."
"What's wrong Oracle?" the brunette called back, sounding like she was running. She was probably leaping buildings.
Barbara paused briefly and frowned. Finally she said softly. "Nothing. Nothing. Just...just..."
"Be careful. Got it. Don't worry. Huntress out."
Barbara pursed her lips and stared at the LCD in front of her. Bright colors splashed towards her, showing her a map of the city.
It was all very calming.
Usually.
Tonight it was her own personal secluded hell.
Harley was free and Helena was headed right at her.
Right into the belly of the beast.