Chapter 8: Flashback
Nearly three years had passed since the first Mrs. Stewart's funeral, but she of all people knew that the pain and the wounds were still too fresh. "How stupid of you Shayera!", she scolded herself. She placed both of her hands on the shower wall and leaned over, letting the warm water run over her hair and face. Closing her eyes, she began to think back to that awful time.
The news was stunning. Katma had been ambushed and died alone. She had been dead for nearly three days before Kilowog found her body. It tore John apart. He had been out on a mission when she died and the guilt of not being there to protect her only added to his immense grief. Her death changed John, but not in a good way. During the months after her death, something was unleashed in him; something primal, something brutal, and something vengeful. She remembers that day well - too well.
Fighting back tears Kilowog touched his COM link and made the fateful report. "I've found her. Tell John…I've found her" he said softly and slowly, his voice cracking ever so slightly.
"I understand", the Martian Manhunter grimly replied. "He…he has her, John", J'onn telepathically told him. John thanked him, but did not ask about her condition. He already knew. Her ring's arrival was omen enough. Her dying thoughts were of him and she had willed the ring back to her husband. It had taken three days to arrive, but retracing the ring's path was how they were able to locate her body. It took all of their efforts to prevent him from going out on his own to bring her back. Bruce, as usual, proved to be the most persuasive.
For forty agonizing minutes he waited in his darkened room, alone. Shayera volunteered to wait with him, but he just smiled and politely refused. He gazed at their wedding picture and gently ran his fingers across her two dimensional image. He closed his eyes and his head hung low into his chest. Then the moment he had been dreading came. A low clarion call sounded and a hush fell over the Watchtower. "John, he has arrived".
He slowly stood up, gently placed the picture on the bed they used to share and deeply exhaled. He touched the wall panel which opened the door to their quarters and he began to slowly make his way toward the hangar. It was a short journey and one he had taken many times before, but on this day, this God awful day, it seemed to take forever. The usually bustling main corridor of the Watchtower, with its assortment of personnel and costumed heroes alike, had come to a standstill. It was so quiet that he could hear the echo from every one of his footsteps. Upon arriving at the landing bay, he found the other founding members already there. He walked through them without speaking. Clark started to approach, but Bruce put his hand on Clark's shoulder. Clark turned and Bruce shook his head. Clark nodded and stepped back.
The landing bay doors opened and the Javelin made its slow descent. Once inside, the doors closed and the room pressurized. The Javelin's ramp opened and Kilowog, holding her body, slowly walked down. His massive frame belied the tenderness in which he carried his charge. She was covered, head to toe, in a thick black and green blanket with the Green Lantern Corps insignia on top. John clenched his fists and began to walk toward them. Kilowog stopped at the end of the ramp and waited. When her husband arrived at the foot of the Javelin's ramp, Kilowog was openly crying, but earnestly holding Katma's body. Now standing in front of his fellow Green Lantern, John slowly held his arms out and Kilowog tenderly placed Katma's body on the Marine's outstretched arms.
"I'm so sorry, John" he said stepping aside and placing his hand on John's left shoulder.
John brought her body close to his chest and held his face close to hers. He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth and then slowly fell to his knees. Still cradling her lifeless body, he began to rock back and forth, sobbing. His cries echoed off the walls of the massive landing bay. Tears began to readily flow from everyone present. Superman, wiping away his own tears was the first to silently excuse himself. The others followed his lead. All, save one.
She slowly made her way over to her former lover, now widowed, knelt down and embraced him from behind. She then stretched out her wings and wrapped them around both John and Katma.
They remained in that position until the crying stopped. What she didn't know then, and still doesn't know now, is that John was crying not only for Katma, but for the other lost soul wrapped in that blanket with her.