9. Burdened

'He shouldn't look like this.'

Coming towards her was Bruce Wayne, looking exactly as he did when the first time she met him.

'Lazureus Pit' was the first thought that came to her mind. 'Bruce Wayne…no, Batman had used the Lazureus Pit. He had used magic. But he hated magic' all these thoughts were racing through her mind, when Flash strode up to her.

"Hey Di, don't I look just dashing." Diana turned sideways to look at Flash. He had cleaned up. Gone were the red beard and moustache and the matted hair. He was wearing 'Bermudas' and a shirt, which was one size too big for him and a fact which was further accentuated by his wiry frame.

"Wally, nice to see you again" said Diana as they took their places on the long dining table.

Bruce Wayne sat on one corner of the table with his daughter while Diana and Flash sat on the other corner. Suddenly J'onn phased from the floor and took his seat.

"Why this seating arrangement?" "Is it because of me?" asked Diana, feeling self-conscious and sorry for the apparent disagreement between her former teammates.

"Its normal" said Flash, between mouthfuls of a delicious high-carb high-protein dish Alfred had prepared just for him, to help him recover and regain his physical strength.

"Normal?"

J'onn sensed her turmoil and laid a calming hand on hers. "Diana, what Flash meant to say was that whenever Batman comes back from a mission, especially one such as long as this, his first meal back is with his daughter."

"Oh"

Diana turned to look at the two people at the end of the table. Bruce Wayne was eating his dinner in silence, like always – 'Normal'. Except for the energetic child sitting next to him, who was talking continuously and animatedly, gesturing with her hands. Bruce seemed distracted and not paying attention to her, but knowing him, he was hearing and taking in every single detail.

Suddenly the child stopped speaking and leaned towards Bruce, who gave her a small smile and mouthed 'good girl' causing the child to literally glow with joy.

Diana was so engrossed in their interaction that it took her a moment to realize, two cold eyes burrowing into her. Bruce had caught onto her. Unable to maintain his stare, Diana lowered her eyes and looked away to her dinner.

The rest of the dinner was silent, except for the young child's voice, which rose occasionally, the words 'fly', 'outside' and if Diana was not mistaken Zatanna reaching her ears.

After dinner, Shaye went upstairs to her room, while Bruce proceeded underground to the 'cave' followed by J'onn and Diana. Flash had retired for the night, to catch 'Forty-thousand zeeees' he had said.

Entering the cave J'onn took Diana to the 'right' and away from Batman.

"Batman had asked me to bring you up to speed," said J'onn, answering Diana's unspoken question.

"Oh"

"Diana" began J'onn.

"You'll get his trust back," J'onn said trying to bolster her confidence.

"Thanks J'onn" "I know you are trying to help, but as hard as it was hearing 'the truth' being spoken from his mouth, hearing it from a little girl is damning" said Diana sadly. "Not that I can blame them or say anything in my defense. I did cause all of this."

"No Diana, you didn't" said J'onn sternly. "And as for young Shaye, you forget whose daughter she is, Batman and Hawkgirl, two of the league's most 'powerful' detectives and probably the most 'skeptical' heroes."

Diana smiled ruefully. "The League" she said sarcastically. "Superman, Green Lantern and I, we made a mockery out of the league."

J'onn remained silent. Diana was carrying a heavy burden on her shoulders. A burden, which had increased with the passage of time.

"Here" started J'onn, trying to change the subject. "I have setup an interface for you to use. The controls are similar to the ones you used in the watchtower. You should be able to get to speed, with all that has occurred in the past sixteen years, ever since you left for Atlantis."

"Thank you J'onn" offered Diana, occupying her assigned post.

"Once you get re-acquainted, we will start work on others areas like the technological changes, the protocols etc." explained J'onn. "Now I'll leave you with your work. You can come and access this terminal anytime you want. Batman, Alfred or I are always in the cave, and now that Flash is here he will be too as soon as he has recovered fully."

Diana nodded her head and J'onn left her alone and walked away, towards Batman.

The first thing Diana had to study was the cave schematics. It was divided into two sections, with one with the name 'Batman only' on it. That file was locked from Diana, so she explored the other section. It was quite large with its own lab, infirmary, emergency vehicles and living quarters. Upon closer inspection, Diana found that two of the living quarters could 'disassemble' on themselves into vehicles of sorts. The words B and J were printed on those quarters. 'Batman and J'onn Jones' she mused.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the cave

"She seems troubled, burdened by the events of the past," said J'onn Jones.

"We all are" came the reply from the huge chair.

"Yes" "But she seems to blame herself 'solely' for everything that has happened."

"It was her vote that was the deciding factor," said Batman.

J'onn knew that Batman was just stating the facts and not pressing any blame on Diana.

"This self-blame is not good for her" sympathized J'onn.

"I know," agreed Batman. "What do you want me to do, J'onn?" he asked, turning the chair to face the Martian.

"You are the only one who can help out of this pit she has dug herself into." "What hurts her most is that she betrayed you and lost your trust," explained J'onn. "And today she fell even lower in her own eyes when young Shaye asked if she could be trusted."

Batman was quiet for sometime before speaking. "I'll see what I can do?"

Suddenly there was a beeping sound. Someone was transporting into the cave.

Diana's thoughts were interrupted by the sound echoing throughout the cave. She hurried towards the sound, arriving just in time to see a woman hugging one of the men. A woman in fishnet stockings.

"Zatanna" exclaimed Diana.

"Diana" came the equally startled reply as Zatanna withdrew from the embrace of J'onn Jones.