Notes: This is the final chapter of the Survivor series. I have another idea lurking in my skull but who knows if that will ever come to pass. This has been a year and a half long process for me and it's been very rewarding. Thanks to everyone for the kind feedback and support.
He moved around behind her and touched her shoulder gently. "Miss Dinah?"

"I'm okay," she admitted. "Just taking a breath. Haven't really had time to do that a lot lately."

"I know what you mean," he replied, leading her towards the couch. She sat on it and pulled a blanket up over her knees. "You have been amazing."

"I've been shaking," she said slowly. "All of this feels so surreal."

"It almost is."

She laughed. "Alfred, what if we had failed? What if she had died?"

"She didn't," he reassured her. "And before long you'll be back on the street patrolling with her again."

"I know. I just..."

He squeezed her shoulder. "Of course you do. We won."

"Did we? I mean did we? It never ends. Tomorrow we'll fight another battle where we might die. And the war..."

He smiled at her warmly. "Never underestimate the battles Miss Dinah."

"I don't understand."

"I'm not sure we're meant to but what I do know is that in the end, all that matters is where we've been. It's hard to understand that now but eventually these last several weeks will make Helena stronger than she has ever been." He paused for effect. "And you as well."

She dropped her head. "Is it wrong of me to say that right now all I want to do is curl up on my bed and have myself a good cry?"

"Are you sad?"

"No. Just spent."

"It's never wrong," he told her softly. "Do what you must. Believe it or not, even Helena has shed tears at times."

"I don't believe it."

Alfred laughed. "You're not meant to."

She grinned. "You know Alfred, you rock."

He cocked his head. "So I've been told. I presume it to be a good thing."

"Yeah. You rock."

He patted her shoulder. "Very well. Would you like some lunch?"

"Does saying you rock get me a BLT?"

"It might get you two."

"You rock."
"What are you thinking about?" the redhead asked as she locked eyes with her young charge. She was dressed in simple gray sweats and a wifebeater, her hair pulled back behind her ears.

"Hm?" Helena asked as she looked up. She was lying flat on her back, hands under her head and feet locked under Barbara's butt. She moved forward, her right elbow jutting to the left as she performed a picture perfect sit-up, her body trembling slightly under the stress of the action.

"You haven't said anything for almost ten minutes," Barbara observed.

"Been doing your stupid exercises. I hate sit-ups."

"We can move to the stationary bike as soon as you're ready."

Helena snorted. "Unless it's humming under me, can go one hundred miles an hour and looks good between my legs, I'm not interested."

Barbara wrinkled her nose. "I'm not sure but I think that was more information than I wanted to know."

"Probably," Helena admitted slyly. She pushed herself into the sitting position and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She could feel all the muscles in her stomach screaming out at her. Despite the fact that it was her legs that needed the therapy, Barbara had decided to give her a full work out and she was exhausted. This certainly wasn't her training regime. She much preferred getting her exercise from beating up on Dinah or a bag and then jumping rooftops.

"You didn't answer my question," Barbara reminded her. "What have you been thinking about?"

"How close we came," Helena replied, not meeting her mentor's eyes. "How close I came. I keep wondering if I'll ever forget that warehouse."

Barbara shook her head, "You won't."

"I was afraid you'd say that," Helena answered dully.

"I wish I had a better answer for you but that's not how it works. The key I guess is then not to let that memory define you."

"You do," Helena said quietly, looking up at her.

Barbara eased a bit, lifting her butt off of Helena's feet. Her eyes swept across the bandages, inspecting them for any sign that they needed to be replaced. The action took less than three seconds and yet it was very thorough. "I don't follow," Barbara answered.

"Yes you do," Helena replied. "You do. When he took your legs, you became this. You became Oracle. You let it..."

"Define me," Barbara finished for her.

"Yeah," Helena said with a nod.

"You know Hel, in the beginning I became Oracle because I had to do something. I was losing my mind and you were being a pain in the ass."

Helena smiled, "So I'm not now?"

Barbara laughed, "Oh you still are. What I mean is, even though I'd taken you in by then, you didn't want anything to do with me and really I didn't..."

"Want anything to do with me either," Helena put in. "I know. Made it easier for me."

"Yeah and I'm sorry about that."

"Don't me," Helena said with a shake of her head. "I'm not. They weren't all bad times."

"I really don't want to know," Barbara laughed. "Something tells me if I knew even half of what you were doing back then I'd need a few dozen showers."

Helena smirked. "Not saying you're wrong."

"Nice," Barbara answered. "But we're off track again. You're very good at getting us off track."

"Just now getting that eh?" Helena drawled as she reached for a bottle of water. She drained half it and then roughly wiped away the stray droplets on her chin.

"Known it for awhile," Barbara admitted. "Look, all I'm saying is that what happened there, it changed you. "

"Changed me how?"

"I guess that's up to you to decide. I like to think it'll make you stronger?"

"And if it doesn't?" Helena asked, her voice suddenly very small. "What if sometimes I don't want to get up again?"

"You mean crawl?"

"Yeah."

"Helena, I crawled for almost six months after I got shot. The first time I saw that chair, I told them to get it the hell out of my room. I didn't want to admit that I'd never get out of it. Just remember, in order to walk you have to crawl first."

"How profound," Helena said with a half-smile.

"Too much heart to heart for one day?" Barbara teased her.

"Yeah a little bit," the brunette answered. "So okay, tell me there's more to this rehab thing than you sitting on my feet. When do I get to kick someone?"

Barbara laughed. "I don't have that penciled in until next week."

Helena groaned and fell back, hitting the mat. "I'm doomed I say, doomed."

"Nah," Barbara grinned. "Just in my hands." She stopped, as if she were considering her own words. "Then again, you just might be right."

Helena looked up at her. "What I'd ever do to you?"

"You remember all those evenings in high school that I spent up waiting for you to get home? And then having to undress you and get you into bed?"

'Yeah?" Helena muttered suspiciously.

Barbara grinned, ear to ear. "Payback's a bitch."
Helena reached up and across and hugged him to her, letting the lean lines of his body press up against her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Likewise," she murmured. "Don't stay away so long."

"I won't. I'll be back as soon as school is out," Tim promised her. "We'll hang."

"I'm holding you to that."

"No worries," he said, breaking the hug. He turned to face Dinah. "I'll be your wingman any day. You my dear are a badass."

She laughed and hugged him. "Ditto. Be safe."

"No worries." He glanced over at Barbara. "Bet you're glad to see me go."

"You know that's not true," she replied, moving towards him.

"Sure it is," he laughed. "But it's okay. I'll be back and causing trouble soon enough."

"I look forward to it," Barbara replied, embracing him tightly. She kissed his cheek and ruffled his dark hair, drawing a look of annoyance from him and a snort of amusement from Helena.

"We'll see if you're still saying that after I've been back for a few minutes," Tim laughed. Then he turned to Reese and offered a hand. "Good to meet you Detective."

"You as well," Reese replied.

"Take care of my girl. She's a special woman," Tim said, looking back at Helena. She blushed a bit at the comment causing him to widen his grin much to her chagrin.

"I don't need taking care of," Helena commented, leaning heavily against the wall. Her mobility was greatly improved but she was still finding that she didn't like to be up and about too long without something to rest against.

"Sure you do," Tim smirked. He winked at her, deflating the irritation he could see sparking in her eyes. "Be well Reese. You have my sympathies man."

"Hey!" Helena shot, tossing a pillow from the futon at him. He ducked it and grinned. Then he waved.

"Audios my friends. I'm ready Alfred."

"Of course Master Tim," Alfred said with a smile. He moved towards the elevator, Tim following a few feet behind. Tim waved once more and then disappeared behind the metal doors. They closed with a quiet hiss.

"Well that sucked," Dinah said, dropping down on to the futon.

"He'll be back and he's way too old for you," Helena teased. Dinah opened her mouth in protest but the playful look in Helena's eyes told her it could only get worse so she decided not to go down that road. Helena turned to look at Barbara. "How about we order a pizza? There's a game on."

"Wonderful," Barbara snorted. "I hate watching games with you."

"Oh she can't be that bad," Reese commented as he reached out and slid an arm around Helena's waist. He pulled her down to the ground with him, settling the two of them in front of the TV. She adjusted her body so that she was sitting on her own but leaning her head against him. She wasn't sure what exactly was going on but it felt good and new. Fun and dramatic.

And maybe more.

But that was thought for another time. A time when the Knicks weren't taking on the Lakers.

"She's that bad," Barbara replied, reaching for the phone.

"Am not," Helena answered.

"Are too," Dinah grinned.

"Eh bite me."

"Girls, no biting," Barbara said with a smirk.

Dinah stuck her tongue out. "She's saying you haven't gotten your shots yet."

"I'll give you a shot," Helena promised, eyes twinkling deviously.

Barbara rolled her eyes, exchanging a bemused look with Reese who was flipping channels on the remote, looking for the YES network. Slowly but surely a smile spread out on her face. Her green eyes sparkled and she felt tension roll away from her shoulders.

It really was over.

She closed her eyes.

Now they could all heal.

Heal and learn to forgive and move on.

Even her.

Finally.

And as a family.
-FIN