(Please Note: The spoilers in the first chapter have been up-dated and some
editing has been done as well. This chapter takes places after "Nature Of
The Beast", Episode #9.)
.
It had been three days since the incident at the hospital with Al Hawk, and Dinah was still recovering. That one day had taken a lot out of her. She had been lied to by Barbara and Helena, who she had almost killed with her flying-cutlery routine, and she had ended up saving the man that killed her mother. Now she was back in the training room, working the bag as always to clear her mind. She pounded on it, beating the hard fixture with all the strength she had, hitting it until her hands hurt through the gloves. Pain she understood, why she saved Hawk . . .
"Hey Kid!" Dinah spun around. There in the door-way stood Helena, her outfit as aggressive as the brunette's attitude. "Take it easy or you won't have enough energy to go on a sweep with me tonight." Helena gave her a small smile, but Dinah didn't return it.
"I don't think I'm gonna go tonight. I have a History test tomorrow." She turned back to the bag but stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. There, standing behind her, was Huntress. She actually looked disappointed.
"But you promised. You've been training non-stop for three days. Don't you think it's about time you started beating the crap out of REAL people?" The younger girl sighed.
"I'm sorry . . ." She really was, she had no idea that Helena really wanted her out there fighting with her, "I just can't tonight. I told Gabby we'd study together. Besides, it's because of all my training that I should really stay home; I know almost nothing of what's going to be on this test." Dinah took a slow deep breath and continued. "Anyways, I don't want to take my anger out on anyone that doesn't deserve it." Helena looked almost confused.
"Who deserves to get their butt kicked by a high-school-girl more then criminals?" Dinah actually smiled at that, {It's a start . . .} Helena thought. "Tomorrow night then?" Dinah nodded, and went back to the bag. Helena headed to the door, watching her for a few seconds. The blonde was hitting the target so hard it had strength almost to match The Huntress' . . . and that worried Helena. Whatever was going on it the Kid's mind, it wasn't good.
The brunette sat down on the couch, enjoying her night off from the bar by watching a little TV. It was an old show that had been really popular when Barbara was younger; they had watched the reruns together when Helena had first moved in. just as the episode was ending, Dinah walked out of the training room, hands wrapped still.
"Helena!" Dinah said, obviously surprised to see her. She tucked her hands awkwardly under armpits. "What are you still doing here?" Helena got up slowly, switching off the TV.
"Waiting for Barbara to get home . . ." she walked over slowly, and the blonde took a nervous step back. Realizing it would be best to cut to the chase, "What happened to your hands?" the older woman asked sternly.
"My hands?" Helena nodded, "Nothing. They're fine, just . . . fine. I'm going to go shower now-"
"I don't think so." Helena said, stopping the girl as she turned towards the washroom. She pulled her arms out from their hiding place, and her eyes widened at what she saw. The wraps that Dinah had been wearing under were stained with blood. "Dinah what happened?"
She slowly unwrapped the fabric, and the blonde winced slightly. Helena took her over to the kitchen, turned on some cold water, and ran the girl's hands under it. The blood cleared away, but her fingers were still slightly swollen. There were scrapes on and between her knuckles, they weren't too bad, but the fact that they were there at all made the older girl very upset.
"How did this happen Dinah?" Helena ask in her no-nonsense-voice. Dinah looked down at her feet.
"I think I might have been wearing them too tight."
"You must have felt them cutting into you?" Helena asked. She knew that if Dinah hadn't felt it they had a whole new problem to worry about.
"I know I just . . . didn't care." Helena took a dish-towel off the counter and started to gently dry the Kid's hands. {At least she's letting me take care of her.} she thought. No sooner had she thought it than Dinah pulled away. She walked over to the couch and sat down heavily, head in her hands. Helena went to sit down next to her, not too close, she didn't want to crowd her.
"Is it wrong to hate someone?" she asked, voice muffled through her hands. Helena sighed, she really wasn't good at this kind of thing.
"I'm not sure. If it's unjustified, or misplaced, then yes. But I think you have a very good reason to hate Hawk." Dinah looked up at her, slightly pink in the cheeks,
"Am I that transparent?" she asked slowly. Helena put an arm around Dinah's shoulders, and patted her back gently.
"You're not transparent." She said slowly, "I'd be feeling the same way. Granted, if it were me, Hawk would probably be dead." Dinah looked at her, confused. "I meant what I said Kid . . . I don't think I could have do what you did." She smiled, and continued. "You have a good heart, bigger than any I've ever seen, and that's what makes you such a great super- hero." Dinah look sad again as tears brimmed in her eyes.
"I'll never be as good as my mother though." Her voice shook as she said it.
"Good." The younger girl's head shot up to look at her. "You have so much more potential than your mother. She was great, and a legend, but I think you have the potential to be something incredible." Her voice got quiet as she went on. "We're only made out of our parents Dinah, what we decide to do with what they gave us is up to us." Dinah smiled. "Besides, your mother and mine didn't seem to get along . . . she didn't seem to like me either. Direct proof that mothers and daughters are very different people." Dinah actually laughed.
"But I don't want to forget her. She left some pretty big foot-prints to fallow in."
"You don't have to fallow them, ya know?" Helena said pointedly, "Walk along side them, but make your own path. Find your own way in life."
"I was thinking . . ." Dinah started, but stopped herself, realizing how dumb it would sound.
"What?" Helena asked, watching the girl fall silent.
"Nothing." Dinah made to get up, but the older girl pulled her back down with the hand on her shoulder.
"You wouldn't have said it if it was 'nothing'." Dinah blushed and looked away.
"You all have really cool nick-names." She said quietly.
"What?" Helena asked, slightly confused.
"You guys, all the 'real' super-heroes. Dark Strike, Huntress, Oracle, BatMan . . . I was thinking about maybe using my mothers." Dinah blushed again, and Helena smiled.
"Nah, doesn't suit you. Besides, you should come up with your own."
"I was thinking about that." Dinah said slowly, "But I want it to be at least partly like my mother's." Helena thought for a minute, running her hand over the smaller girl's head. {Why am I touching her hair?} She wondered. Looking at her hand, and the body it was attached to, she realized the girl didn't mind. She also realized that she herself was enjoying it. {It is pretty comforting}.
"How about," Helena said, running her fingers through some of the flowing blonde hair, "The Golden Canary?" Dinah looked at her like she was nuts. "What?" she asked defensively.
"Oh yeah, that'll strike fear into the hearts of Evil-Doers . . . a animal you can buy at a pet store." Now that she thought about it, it made Helena laugh.
"Alright, I'll admit, not a very scary animal." She kept running her handover the girl's hair and back. "Why don't we stick with the Black part then and drop the Canary?" Dinah nodded in agreement.
"Sounds good, but lets stick with the bird theme too." She thought aloud.
"What about Black Hawk?" Helena said before thinking, sitting this close to Dinah seemed to be doing weird stuff to her head. The younger girl looked at her through the corner of her eyes, and shook head.
"I don't think so. First of all; no longer a big fan of those birds, secondly; it's a type of a helicopter." Helena nodded.
"Well, I don't know many other birds . . ." she said, deep in thought, "Unless you want to be the Black-Pigeon." Dinah smiled.
"Also not very gruesome." She took a deep breath and sighed, enjoying this little moment of closeness with Huntress. She paused to think for a moment, then it came to her. "What about The Black Falcon?" Helena looked a little lost.
"The Black What?" she asked. Dinah laughed.
"Falcon. Their a small Bird Of Prey, very fast, and have exceptional eyesight." Dinah looked excited.
"Hmm, The Black Falcon . . ." Helena let it roll of her tongue as though tasting it for the first time. It felt good. "Seems fitting. You're little - well, littler than most super-heroes, you are pretty quick, and you do have that Sight into the mind trick or yours. I like it." With Helena's seal of approval Dinah was already in love with it.
"And!" Dinah added quickly, "There are loads of them in the city. They're high-flying birds that can be seen making nests at the tops of sky-rises and they help keep the city's rat population down."
"Hmm, very nice. We'll have to tell Barbara. I bet she'll like it, very educational." Both girls laughed. And Helena gave her a hug. {Why don't I hug her more often? This feels really nice.} Helena wondered. She remembered back to when Dinah had first come to the Clock-Tower. She had been afraid to touch the young girl for fear of her finding out things that The Huntress kept locked in side. She ran a hand gently over the girls back.
"You know you can always talk to me right?" she whispered to the girl. Dinah nodded, taken aback by the brunette's show of affection. She was usually such an emotionally closed off person Dinah knew better than to waste it. "I won't think you're weird. If there's ever anything you don't want to tell Barbara, you can always come to me, Okay?" Dinah nodded.
Helena held her tighter, not wanting to let go. She hadn't hugged anyone in ages, and she was realizing how much she missed it. The smell of the girls hair was intoxicating, like Oranges and Cream. Without really thinking, she kissed her neck lightly. She felt Dinah shiver, and the warm tingle that ran through her own body at her lips contact with the blonde's skin. She kissed her neck again, and then her temple, and then her cheek, and finally her soft pink lips.
She was lost in the feeling. The pure and flawless sensation of pleasure that bubbled just under her skin and inside her stomach. She wasn't used to this. She was used to Passion, and searing heat, but not this slow, burning, seeded feeling of aching need. Her motto had always been the famous barrowed words of 'Get Some, Get Gone'. This kiss from Dinah was changing her mind on more than just a few things. She pulled back gently, eyes closed, mouth taking in as many deep breaths as she could.
"Helena . . ." The breathless whisper that came from below her shook her out of her thoughts. Her eyes snapped open to find herself atop Dinah on Barbara's couch. Slowly, Dinah's eyes opened too.
"Oh My God!" Helena whispered. She quickly jumped off the girl, a look of deep confusion covering her face. " . . . Oh My God . . ." she whispered to herself.
"Helena," Dinah said gently, sitting up.
"Oh Shit!" The older woman quickly ran a hand through her short brown hair, making it stand on end slightly. Dinah got up.
"Helena, I can explain-" she moved to put a hand on the Huntress' shoulder, but the older girl brushed it off quickly.
"Damn right you can explain! What the hell just happened?! Where you inside my mind again?!" Dinah's look of worry turned to a look of pain.
"You think I did this?" she asked quietly. Helena had regretted it the moment she said it, but it was too late to go back now. She had started on the defensive, and now she was flying blind. When in doubt, blame someone else.
"Well this wasn't my idea!" she yelled, not sure if that was true. "What, you think I randomly kiss my female co-workers all the time?" Dinah's eyes filled with tears, and she turned away.
"I didn't do this, Helena, and you know it." She said slowly, her voice shaking violently. "But that doesn't mean I didn't want it to happen." If Helena didn't have super-hearing she wouldn't have caught the last part. Dinah reached up to wipe her tears away and faced Huntress again. Helena's face was stone, emotionless, lifeless, and that could not be more contradicting of what was boiling inside her.
"I've gotta go. I have to get to work." Helena pulled her communicator and earrings off, leaving them on Barbara's desk as she headed for the door.
"Helena, Wait!" Dinah called, running to the elevator. But it was too late. The doors had closed, and The Huntress was gone. Dinah sunk to the floor, tears streaming down her face. She didn't want this. She knew what Kissing Helena would cost her, that was all that kept her from doing it herself. Had she done it? She didn't know anymore. She didn't want to lose Helena, she was her Hero, and her Friend. Also . . . she Loved her. She wasn't sure how long she stayed there down on the floor crying, but it must have been a while. She didn't get up until the doors opened again.
Barbara wheeled in, shocked to find Dinah there on the ground. She rushed over to her, reaching down to try and help her up.
"Dinah, what happened? Where's Huntress?" Dinah shook her head.
"She's not here, she left. She had to go to work." She wiped her eyes and looked down at her shoes.
"Helena got the night off, the Dark Horse is closed for re-wiring and to restock the supply closet . . ." Barbara looked closely at the young girl and put a hand on her shoulder. "Dinah, please . . . tell me what happened?" Dinah looked apprehensive, but didn't know what to do. {Oracle know Helena better than anyone, she'll know what I should do . . . but will she freak out if I tell her?} her internal debate didn't last very long, she was more afraid of losing Huntress' trust then having Barbara mad at her for a few days.
"Helena and I . . ." she started, but didn't quite know how to word it. "We kind of kissed, and she freaked out." She got it out in a rush, hoping that she wouldn't have to repeat herself. Barbara's eyes bugged out to the point where she looked like one of those Japanese Gold-Fish.
"Helena Kissed you?" she asked slowly. Dinah nodded. "You didn't kiss her, she kissed you?" another nod. "Well, that's something I didn't expect . . ." Dinah bowed her head, letting her hair fall into her face, "I always thought you'd be the one to kiss her." Like a cork out of a bottle the blonde's head shot back up.
"What?!" Barbara laughed.
"I may not be as young as you, but I know when people are in Love." Dinah blushed. {She thinks I'm just talking about her . . .} Barbara though, laughing to herself. "Tell me exactly what happened." And she did. Dinah told her what had happened with her hands, to Helena taking care of her when she was crying (which really seemed to surprise even Oracle), all the way until Helena ran out into the Elevator. Barbara gave the girl a hug, and led her over to the couch.
"I don't know what to do. She blames me, but I didn't do it . . . I don't think." She ran a hand through her slightly messy hair, and sighed. "What do you think I should do?" She looked so lost and scared the older woman knew that Dinah really did love The Huntress.
"Don't worry. This will just have to take time. She'll be here tomorrow and you two can talk then. She'll realized that you didn't do it, and it'll all blow over." Dinah looked down at her shoes, and then back at the red-head.
"What if I don't want it to blow over?" She just gave her a small smile and shrugged.
"Do you mind if I Invite Gabby over? I Promised I would study with her on the phone, but I could really use a friend right now?" Barbara nodded, and Dinah went to the phone. After a few rings, Gabby picked up.
"Hello?" she sounded chipper as ever.
"Hey, Gabby? It's Dinah."
"Hey D, what's up?"
"Could you come over to study tonight?" somehow Gabby could tell that something Best-Friend-worthy had happened.
"Sure thing Di, I'll be over in a few minutes - " she suddenly stopped. "Wait a second! Where do you live?" Dinah realized that Gabby had never been to the clock-tower.
"Do you know where the Clock-Tower is?"
"Yeah."
"I live in one of the apartments inside. I'll wait for you outside and show you up, okay?" Gabby agreed, and they said their good-byes. As she hung up the phone Barbara rolled over, Helena's Com Set in hand. Both women frowned, and looked out into the city.
"Looks like New Gothem will have to deal with us taking a night off . . ." Barbara said slowly.
"Better call Reese." Dinah said. "He'd want to know that Helena is taking a night off. Give the police the heads up that they're gonna have their hands full tonight." The older woman nodded and picked up the phone.
Dinah took a quick shower, and cleaned her room a little. She then went out-side to wait for Gabby to arrive. The redhead watched her go sadly. Helena could be a real jerk sometimes. {She better use her time wisely, she's got a lot to make up for . . .}.
.
( To Be Continued . . .)
.
It had been three days since the incident at the hospital with Al Hawk, and Dinah was still recovering. That one day had taken a lot out of her. She had been lied to by Barbara and Helena, who she had almost killed with her flying-cutlery routine, and she had ended up saving the man that killed her mother. Now she was back in the training room, working the bag as always to clear her mind. She pounded on it, beating the hard fixture with all the strength she had, hitting it until her hands hurt through the gloves. Pain she understood, why she saved Hawk . . .
"Hey Kid!" Dinah spun around. There in the door-way stood Helena, her outfit as aggressive as the brunette's attitude. "Take it easy or you won't have enough energy to go on a sweep with me tonight." Helena gave her a small smile, but Dinah didn't return it.
"I don't think I'm gonna go tonight. I have a History test tomorrow." She turned back to the bag but stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. There, standing behind her, was Huntress. She actually looked disappointed.
"But you promised. You've been training non-stop for three days. Don't you think it's about time you started beating the crap out of REAL people?" The younger girl sighed.
"I'm sorry . . ." She really was, she had no idea that Helena really wanted her out there fighting with her, "I just can't tonight. I told Gabby we'd study together. Besides, it's because of all my training that I should really stay home; I know almost nothing of what's going to be on this test." Dinah took a slow deep breath and continued. "Anyways, I don't want to take my anger out on anyone that doesn't deserve it." Helena looked almost confused.
"Who deserves to get their butt kicked by a high-school-girl more then criminals?" Dinah actually smiled at that, {It's a start . . .} Helena thought. "Tomorrow night then?" Dinah nodded, and went back to the bag. Helena headed to the door, watching her for a few seconds. The blonde was hitting the target so hard it had strength almost to match The Huntress' . . . and that worried Helena. Whatever was going on it the Kid's mind, it wasn't good.
The brunette sat down on the couch, enjoying her night off from the bar by watching a little TV. It was an old show that had been really popular when Barbara was younger; they had watched the reruns together when Helena had first moved in. just as the episode was ending, Dinah walked out of the training room, hands wrapped still.
"Helena!" Dinah said, obviously surprised to see her. She tucked her hands awkwardly under armpits. "What are you still doing here?" Helena got up slowly, switching off the TV.
"Waiting for Barbara to get home . . ." she walked over slowly, and the blonde took a nervous step back. Realizing it would be best to cut to the chase, "What happened to your hands?" the older woman asked sternly.
"My hands?" Helena nodded, "Nothing. They're fine, just . . . fine. I'm going to go shower now-"
"I don't think so." Helena said, stopping the girl as she turned towards the washroom. She pulled her arms out from their hiding place, and her eyes widened at what she saw. The wraps that Dinah had been wearing under were stained with blood. "Dinah what happened?"
She slowly unwrapped the fabric, and the blonde winced slightly. Helena took her over to the kitchen, turned on some cold water, and ran the girl's hands under it. The blood cleared away, but her fingers were still slightly swollen. There were scrapes on and between her knuckles, they weren't too bad, but the fact that they were there at all made the older girl very upset.
"How did this happen Dinah?" Helena ask in her no-nonsense-voice. Dinah looked down at her feet.
"I think I might have been wearing them too tight."
"You must have felt them cutting into you?" Helena asked. She knew that if Dinah hadn't felt it they had a whole new problem to worry about.
"I know I just . . . didn't care." Helena took a dish-towel off the counter and started to gently dry the Kid's hands. {At least she's letting me take care of her.} she thought. No sooner had she thought it than Dinah pulled away. She walked over to the couch and sat down heavily, head in her hands. Helena went to sit down next to her, not too close, she didn't want to crowd her.
"Is it wrong to hate someone?" she asked, voice muffled through her hands. Helena sighed, she really wasn't good at this kind of thing.
"I'm not sure. If it's unjustified, or misplaced, then yes. But I think you have a very good reason to hate Hawk." Dinah looked up at her, slightly pink in the cheeks,
"Am I that transparent?" she asked slowly. Helena put an arm around Dinah's shoulders, and patted her back gently.
"You're not transparent." She said slowly, "I'd be feeling the same way. Granted, if it were me, Hawk would probably be dead." Dinah looked at her, confused. "I meant what I said Kid . . . I don't think I could have do what you did." She smiled, and continued. "You have a good heart, bigger than any I've ever seen, and that's what makes you such a great super- hero." Dinah look sad again as tears brimmed in her eyes.
"I'll never be as good as my mother though." Her voice shook as she said it.
"Good." The younger girl's head shot up to look at her. "You have so much more potential than your mother. She was great, and a legend, but I think you have the potential to be something incredible." Her voice got quiet as she went on. "We're only made out of our parents Dinah, what we decide to do with what they gave us is up to us." Dinah smiled. "Besides, your mother and mine didn't seem to get along . . . she didn't seem to like me either. Direct proof that mothers and daughters are very different people." Dinah actually laughed.
"But I don't want to forget her. She left some pretty big foot-prints to fallow in."
"You don't have to fallow them, ya know?" Helena said pointedly, "Walk along side them, but make your own path. Find your own way in life."
"I was thinking . . ." Dinah started, but stopped herself, realizing how dumb it would sound.
"What?" Helena asked, watching the girl fall silent.
"Nothing." Dinah made to get up, but the older girl pulled her back down with the hand on her shoulder.
"You wouldn't have said it if it was 'nothing'." Dinah blushed and looked away.
"You all have really cool nick-names." She said quietly.
"What?" Helena asked, slightly confused.
"You guys, all the 'real' super-heroes. Dark Strike, Huntress, Oracle, BatMan . . . I was thinking about maybe using my mothers." Dinah blushed again, and Helena smiled.
"Nah, doesn't suit you. Besides, you should come up with your own."
"I was thinking about that." Dinah said slowly, "But I want it to be at least partly like my mother's." Helena thought for a minute, running her hand over the smaller girl's head. {Why am I touching her hair?} She wondered. Looking at her hand, and the body it was attached to, she realized the girl didn't mind. She also realized that she herself was enjoying it. {It is pretty comforting}.
"How about," Helena said, running her fingers through some of the flowing blonde hair, "The Golden Canary?" Dinah looked at her like she was nuts. "What?" she asked defensively.
"Oh yeah, that'll strike fear into the hearts of Evil-Doers . . . a animal you can buy at a pet store." Now that she thought about it, it made Helena laugh.
"Alright, I'll admit, not a very scary animal." She kept running her handover the girl's hair and back. "Why don't we stick with the Black part then and drop the Canary?" Dinah nodded in agreement.
"Sounds good, but lets stick with the bird theme too." She thought aloud.
"What about Black Hawk?" Helena said before thinking, sitting this close to Dinah seemed to be doing weird stuff to her head. The younger girl looked at her through the corner of her eyes, and shook head.
"I don't think so. First of all; no longer a big fan of those birds, secondly; it's a type of a helicopter." Helena nodded.
"Well, I don't know many other birds . . ." she said, deep in thought, "Unless you want to be the Black-Pigeon." Dinah smiled.
"Also not very gruesome." She took a deep breath and sighed, enjoying this little moment of closeness with Huntress. She paused to think for a moment, then it came to her. "What about The Black Falcon?" Helena looked a little lost.
"The Black What?" she asked. Dinah laughed.
"Falcon. Their a small Bird Of Prey, very fast, and have exceptional eyesight." Dinah looked excited.
"Hmm, The Black Falcon . . ." Helena let it roll of her tongue as though tasting it for the first time. It felt good. "Seems fitting. You're little - well, littler than most super-heroes, you are pretty quick, and you do have that Sight into the mind trick or yours. I like it." With Helena's seal of approval Dinah was already in love with it.
"And!" Dinah added quickly, "There are loads of them in the city. They're high-flying birds that can be seen making nests at the tops of sky-rises and they help keep the city's rat population down."
"Hmm, very nice. We'll have to tell Barbara. I bet she'll like it, very educational." Both girls laughed. And Helena gave her a hug. {Why don't I hug her more often? This feels really nice.} Helena wondered. She remembered back to when Dinah had first come to the Clock-Tower. She had been afraid to touch the young girl for fear of her finding out things that The Huntress kept locked in side. She ran a hand gently over the girls back.
"You know you can always talk to me right?" she whispered to the girl. Dinah nodded, taken aback by the brunette's show of affection. She was usually such an emotionally closed off person Dinah knew better than to waste it. "I won't think you're weird. If there's ever anything you don't want to tell Barbara, you can always come to me, Okay?" Dinah nodded.
Helena held her tighter, not wanting to let go. She hadn't hugged anyone in ages, and she was realizing how much she missed it. The smell of the girls hair was intoxicating, like Oranges and Cream. Without really thinking, she kissed her neck lightly. She felt Dinah shiver, and the warm tingle that ran through her own body at her lips contact with the blonde's skin. She kissed her neck again, and then her temple, and then her cheek, and finally her soft pink lips.
She was lost in the feeling. The pure and flawless sensation of pleasure that bubbled just under her skin and inside her stomach. She wasn't used to this. She was used to Passion, and searing heat, but not this slow, burning, seeded feeling of aching need. Her motto had always been the famous barrowed words of 'Get Some, Get Gone'. This kiss from Dinah was changing her mind on more than just a few things. She pulled back gently, eyes closed, mouth taking in as many deep breaths as she could.
"Helena . . ." The breathless whisper that came from below her shook her out of her thoughts. Her eyes snapped open to find herself atop Dinah on Barbara's couch. Slowly, Dinah's eyes opened too.
"Oh My God!" Helena whispered. She quickly jumped off the girl, a look of deep confusion covering her face. " . . . Oh My God . . ." she whispered to herself.
"Helena," Dinah said gently, sitting up.
"Oh Shit!" The older woman quickly ran a hand through her short brown hair, making it stand on end slightly. Dinah got up.
"Helena, I can explain-" she moved to put a hand on the Huntress' shoulder, but the older girl brushed it off quickly.
"Damn right you can explain! What the hell just happened?! Where you inside my mind again?!" Dinah's look of worry turned to a look of pain.
"You think I did this?" she asked quietly. Helena had regretted it the moment she said it, but it was too late to go back now. She had started on the defensive, and now she was flying blind. When in doubt, blame someone else.
"Well this wasn't my idea!" she yelled, not sure if that was true. "What, you think I randomly kiss my female co-workers all the time?" Dinah's eyes filled with tears, and she turned away.
"I didn't do this, Helena, and you know it." She said slowly, her voice shaking violently. "But that doesn't mean I didn't want it to happen." If Helena didn't have super-hearing she wouldn't have caught the last part. Dinah reached up to wipe her tears away and faced Huntress again. Helena's face was stone, emotionless, lifeless, and that could not be more contradicting of what was boiling inside her.
"I've gotta go. I have to get to work." Helena pulled her communicator and earrings off, leaving them on Barbara's desk as she headed for the door.
"Helena, Wait!" Dinah called, running to the elevator. But it was too late. The doors had closed, and The Huntress was gone. Dinah sunk to the floor, tears streaming down her face. She didn't want this. She knew what Kissing Helena would cost her, that was all that kept her from doing it herself. Had she done it? She didn't know anymore. She didn't want to lose Helena, she was her Hero, and her Friend. Also . . . she Loved her. She wasn't sure how long she stayed there down on the floor crying, but it must have been a while. She didn't get up until the doors opened again.
Barbara wheeled in, shocked to find Dinah there on the ground. She rushed over to her, reaching down to try and help her up.
"Dinah, what happened? Where's Huntress?" Dinah shook her head.
"She's not here, she left. She had to go to work." She wiped her eyes and looked down at her shoes.
"Helena got the night off, the Dark Horse is closed for re-wiring and to restock the supply closet . . ." Barbara looked closely at the young girl and put a hand on her shoulder. "Dinah, please . . . tell me what happened?" Dinah looked apprehensive, but didn't know what to do. {Oracle know Helena better than anyone, she'll know what I should do . . . but will she freak out if I tell her?} her internal debate didn't last very long, she was more afraid of losing Huntress' trust then having Barbara mad at her for a few days.
"Helena and I . . ." she started, but didn't quite know how to word it. "We kind of kissed, and she freaked out." She got it out in a rush, hoping that she wouldn't have to repeat herself. Barbara's eyes bugged out to the point where she looked like one of those Japanese Gold-Fish.
"Helena Kissed you?" she asked slowly. Dinah nodded. "You didn't kiss her, she kissed you?" another nod. "Well, that's something I didn't expect . . ." Dinah bowed her head, letting her hair fall into her face, "I always thought you'd be the one to kiss her." Like a cork out of a bottle the blonde's head shot back up.
"What?!" Barbara laughed.
"I may not be as young as you, but I know when people are in Love." Dinah blushed. {She thinks I'm just talking about her . . .} Barbara though, laughing to herself. "Tell me exactly what happened." And she did. Dinah told her what had happened with her hands, to Helena taking care of her when she was crying (which really seemed to surprise even Oracle), all the way until Helena ran out into the Elevator. Barbara gave the girl a hug, and led her over to the couch.
"I don't know what to do. She blames me, but I didn't do it . . . I don't think." She ran a hand through her slightly messy hair, and sighed. "What do you think I should do?" She looked so lost and scared the older woman knew that Dinah really did love The Huntress.
"Don't worry. This will just have to take time. She'll be here tomorrow and you two can talk then. She'll realized that you didn't do it, and it'll all blow over." Dinah looked down at her shoes, and then back at the red-head.
"What if I don't want it to blow over?" She just gave her a small smile and shrugged.
"Do you mind if I Invite Gabby over? I Promised I would study with her on the phone, but I could really use a friend right now?" Barbara nodded, and Dinah went to the phone. After a few rings, Gabby picked up.
"Hello?" she sounded chipper as ever.
"Hey, Gabby? It's Dinah."
"Hey D, what's up?"
"Could you come over to study tonight?" somehow Gabby could tell that something Best-Friend-worthy had happened.
"Sure thing Di, I'll be over in a few minutes - " she suddenly stopped. "Wait a second! Where do you live?" Dinah realized that Gabby had never been to the clock-tower.
"Do you know where the Clock-Tower is?"
"Yeah."
"I live in one of the apartments inside. I'll wait for you outside and show you up, okay?" Gabby agreed, and they said their good-byes. As she hung up the phone Barbara rolled over, Helena's Com Set in hand. Both women frowned, and looked out into the city.
"Looks like New Gothem will have to deal with us taking a night off . . ." Barbara said slowly.
"Better call Reese." Dinah said. "He'd want to know that Helena is taking a night off. Give the police the heads up that they're gonna have their hands full tonight." The older woman nodded and picked up the phone.
Dinah took a quick shower, and cleaned her room a little. She then went out-side to wait for Gabby to arrive. The redhead watched her go sadly. Helena could be a real jerk sometimes. {She better use her time wisely, she's got a lot to make up for . . .}.
.
( To Be Continued . . .)