"Silver Bells, Christmas Lights, and Angel Wings"

By: The Angelic Temptress

Disclaimer: None of the borrowed characters are mine. Those people who created the show and its stars own them, but they don't know how to "truly" use them to their full potential…

Rating: PG-13, I hope.

Spoilers: Through "Wake the Dead"

4

GL passed Flash without so much as an acknowledgment, and the redhead smiled. He slowly strode to the bar and took a seat beside Vixen. "Hey Z. Beer please. While you're at it, get my friend here a shot of something strong. She looks like she needs it."

Vixen only glared at him as the barmaid set the drinks down.

"So? Dumped, huh? That sucks. I think you 'zigged' when you should have 'zagged.'"

She rolled her light brown eyes and grunted. "Thanks for rubbing it in."

"Well, I figured you might like the taste of your own medicine. After all, rumor has it that you were a bitch to Hawkgirl."

"Rumor? You were listening in on the entire conversation."

He cocked his head to the side and shook it. "Try to stay on topic, huh?" He swallowed some of his beer and laughed. "You know, I liked you for a little while. Not because you're hot. Not because you're female. Not because you –"

"Could you please get to the point?"

"I'm getting there. If you'd stop interrupting me, maybe we'd get somewhere." He sighed loudly and continued. "You were something to get GL's mind out of the past. He was depressed, and you happened to be somebody he wanted to get to know."

"Did you forget that she was the reason for his depression? The reason he became a workaholic? The reason for the government not trusting us?"

Flash knocked the last comment aside with a wave of his hand. "Please. They never trusted us."

Vixen finished her wine and stood. "Shayera Hol is the reason for the chaos in this place, the reason none of you can fully trust anyone. She is why the recruits can't take you seriously. Who the hell forgives a traitor?"

The Flash quickly gulped the rest of this Budweiser and jumped onto the bar, standing where the entire room of JL members could see him. "Hey! Can we cut the music?"

Frank and Dean stopped singing about a "Marshmallow World," the whole room whirled to face him, and a lump formed in his throat. He swallowed hard and took in a deep breath.

"What is it, Flash?" Superman questioned as he made his way to the bar. "Something wrong?"

"Yeah. I think there is something wrong, and it needs to be addressed. I'm not very chatty with this kind of stuff, but I'll try anyway. Even though it's Christmas and even though we all save lives on a daily basis for no reason, I think we can forget what we're all about.

"First of all, I want to say that I'm sorry for anybody feeling uncomfortable around Shayera Hol, because I can guarantee that you'd love her if you gave her the chance to be herself. She's smart… like Batman smart, and she's a tad bit hotheaded, which, if I may say so, makes her all the hotter. Right guys?"

A soft chuckle came from the speedster's audience, giving him a shot of confidence.

"She is here because we decided that she belonged. Yes, she was a spy. Yes, her people tried to destroy our planet. And yes, we felt betrayed. BUT, she came through in the end. She risked her life to save ours, all of ours. Shayera gave up her life as a successful lieutenant from a powerful world so we could stop them from executing their plans.

"I'm sorry, but if you were in her situation, how many of you could turn your back on Earth and your lives here to save another planet?"

The room was silent.

"If you have a problem with the choice we've made, then you can schedule an appointment to talk with the six of us about your worries. I'm sure we'll be more than happy to hear anyone's opinions, even if they happen to be biased and stupid." He moistened his dry lips and gave a slight nod. "Alrighty then. Thanks for your time. Enjoy the party, and have a great holiday. Goodnight."

Within a blink of an eye, The Flash had exited the party room.

VV

"Who was the last person to use the teleportation pads?" John asked J'onn as he checked the settings for the machine and pulled on his duster. "It says here the person was transported to Earth."

"Shayera had left the Watchtowers for Detroit, Lantern."

"Thanks. I'm following her."

"Please be cautious. I sensed that she was distressed."

John let out a breath. "Yeah. You and me both."

VV

Shayera folded her arms across her chest, attempting to keep warm. It was raining and the wind was blowing, keeping the atmosphere arctic. Because of the rain, her boots were sinking into the snow, and she was having enough trouble with the heels to begin with.

The new obstacle wasn't helping.

She pushed her hair from her face and tried to keep her teeth from chattering. If she were lucky, maybe the freezing temperature would end her misery…

That was unlikely. She'd probably only come down with an aggravating cold.

"Shayera!" John called from behind her. She quickened her pace, but it didn't work. His hand gripped her shoulder and forced Shy to face him. "Come on," he said as he led her into the empty alleyway. "Now. We are going to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"I know Mari said some cruel things to you. And –"

Shayera shook her head. "She didn't say anything that really bothered me. Please don't defend me to her or anyone else."

"I wish you would stop with the whole martyr thing. It's really getting old."

"Excuse me?"

"I know you're still trying to work through this on your own, but this passive state you're in is only going to end up ruining you."

A sarcastic chuckle escaped her raspy throat. "You really care that much? I'm surprised you're not with your supermodel girlfriend right now. For some reason, she feels as if I am a target that needs eliminating."

"Forget her." John placed both hands on her arms and made eye contact. "First of all, are you okay?"

"Way to break the ice, John."

VV

"This was such a bad idea, J'onn." Flash sat down beside his alien friend and put his head in his hands. "I totally messed up. I should have known better than to have made Shayera go that Christmas party. I didn't know how many people didn't like her."

The Martian shook his head. "No Flash. Most of them are just apprehensive. You were right in confronting all their fears a few minutes ago."

"You heard that?"

"Every word. It was very brave of you."

Flash shrugged. "Thanks. I just think it should have been said way before now."

VV

John shook his head at her and loosened his grip. "I just want to make sure that…"

"I'm okay? You've said that already. I'm fine. Happy? Now leave me be."

"I know you need to find yourself. I know everything that has happened… Grundy. The Invasion… Us. I know you need to talk to someone."

Shayera took a step from the Lantern and bit her lower lip. "Could you please stop? Don't you see that your girlfriend was right all along?"

"She's not my girlfriend," he retorted.

"I only cause you pain, John. Both Mari and I can't bear seeing you like that… not again. Not ever." The redhead turned away from her ex and started for the barren street.

For once, he didn't know what to do.