14. Family

"Study…now"

From the dining table, three pairs of eyes followed Bruce Wayne storm into the study, followed by a dejected looking Flash.

"Uh oh" muttered Zatanna, her eyes following the two men. "This is bad."

"Bad?" asked Diana, turning back to Zatanna as the study door closed. "Why?"

"Yes" responded Zatanna, a hint of anger in her voice, just as her face reflected sadness. "Flash and….." she hesitated. "Cassandra….they…were involved"

"I guessed that much" commented Diana, sensing there was more to it.

Alfred Pennyworth cleaned the table, a silent prayer of peace on his lips. He left the dining room, allowing Zatanna the privacy to tell Diana about the sorry and regrettable affair.

"Well……" began Zatanna.

----

In the study,

Bruce Wayne stood silently facing the fire place. Flash stood a few feet away, his thoughts still on the conversation he had with Cassandra a few minutes ago. He also knew that Bruce had called him into the study not as Flash but as Wally West.

Years of staying and working with the Batman and his surrogate daughter, Cassandra Cain 'Batgirl' had familiarized Wally with their emotional responses or the lack thereof. The 'Bats' didn't show emotions as a rule and when they did something was horribly wrong or was going to be. And right now the 'Bat' stance of the larger and younger man standing at the window, told him all he needed to know. He had seen an 'inkling' of that stance, seven years ago, when he and Cassandra had first got involved. It had been Shayera who had finally convinced and calmed Bruce.

"She's my daughter" Flash's looked up to Bruce Wayne, who had turned around and was staring right at him. 'She's my daughter' – In that single statement he had said so much – concise and to the point.

"Yes" Wally replied. He should have expected this. He had hurt Cass, and in retrospect the choice he made four years ago, didn't seem worth the time he spent in captivity and certainly not worth the hurt and pain he caused her. But he had to know….he just had to.

"I am sorry Bruce. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It was just something I had to know and do by myself. You of all people must understand."

Both of the stood in silence, Bruce Wayne's penetrating gaze never Flash.

"I said I'd give you one chance…and that I did" Bruce reminded Flash about their conversation seven years ago.

"Yes" agreed Flash, his head lowered, his voice filled with shame and regret. "….and I blew it."

"Yes" was the blunt reply.

"What now?" asked Bruce.

"I know I can't just 'fix' things and act like nothing ever happened, but I just want a chance to make amends."

Bruce Wayne took a deep breath, "You hurt her once. I don't want it to happen again and I sincerely hope it doesn't" he said walking to the door. "….for your sake." With those parting words, he left the room.

---

At the same time, underground, in the cave Cassandra Cain was deep in mediation. Or atleast she was trying to be.

He was back. A part of her was thankful and ecstatic that he was well and in one piece, but another part of her didn't want him there, while another insecure part was afraid of what would happen now that he was back – he was back, yes….but was he back to her – for her? Four years ago, he had made a choice for both of them. A choice which…..

--

/Flashback – Four years ago/

"Cass say something" pleaded Flash, running barely visible super-speed circles around her. "Cass…please"

"There is nothing left to say" she answered tightly, walking to the bat-computer and busying herself with entering surveillance data she had collected on her patrol.

"Cass…baby…don't do this" Flash was getting impatient. "Don't go all 'Batty' on me. Please tell me what you want."

"I already did" she answered without turning to him, her face void of any emotion. She wanted nothing more than to stop him from leaving…but she had done all she could with out sounding all needy and clingy….. now it was his choice.

"Cass, try and understand. I've gotta do this. I owe it to her" he trailed off, his hands falling to his sides.

"OWE IT" she yelled, her unemotional façade cracking and raw emotions gushing forth. "You it to her….what about what you owe to ME?"

"What about it Wall…what about what you owe to me?" She repeated at his silence. "One whisper about her and you are ready to put your life and everything we have, on the line…..WHY?"

"Answer me dammit…WHY?"

"Because she is my WIFE" Flash bellowed, regretting his words as soon as they left his lips. Cassandra looked as if she had been shot right through the chest. She didn't expect him to say that.

"Cass….." Flash slowly started towards her. But before he could reach her, she turned away and pulled her mask over her face.

"Cass" he tried again. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that."

"Yes, you did" she said, walking away from him.

/End Flashback/

----

That was the last time she saw him – until today. He had left alone and was captured within a few hours. It had been a hoax. The Sovereign had known about Flash joining Batman and also knew that Flash would literally come running at the barest hint of Linda.

Family was the most important thing to Flash and his greatest weakness to be exploited. Flash lost complete logic and barged in unprepared and alone – and that had resulted in more than four years of captivity.

'And what now?' thought Cassandra, finally giving up her efforts to meditate.

The last time she had almost destroyed herself, taking undue risks in missions and putting hers' and her teammates' lives in danger. She was lashing out the only way she knew how – fighting. Batman had finally stopped her from spiraling towards oblivian. He had removed her from active duty and limited her involvement only to the cave. He had also placed her in charge of young Shaye – in case of his absence. She had been able to take out her anger on the cave dummies and practice-bots, the work in the cave and the meditation allowed her to regain her control. But it had been Shaye who had healed her – her innocence acting as a salve, taking away the pain and hurt and healing emotional wounds. Six months later she was reinstated to active duty – a time during which she had finally been able to understand the reasons behind Flash's actions, if not forgive them.

Had she been able to forgive him yet? That was the thought whirling in her mind, when she sensed someone watching her. Someone she was not used to – someone new.

---

"You can come out now?" she called to her mystery observer.

Standing up, she turned around and smirking at the shadows.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb your session?" Diana apologized, stepping forward into the lighted room. "I'll leave" she said, stepping back.

"Wonder Woman….wait" she called out, bending and rolling her meditation mat. "You didn't disturb me. I was finished – couldn't meditate."

"Oh"

Picking up the mat she made her way to her storage closet.

"You wanted to talk about something" she asked, glancing at Diana. "….or someone"

"Yes" "I'm sorry about you and……"

"Zatanna told you huh" Cassandra deduced, knowing about Zatanna's soft heart towards friends.

"Yes" replied Diana. "And I'm…"

"Sorry" Cassandra cut her off. "I know…you said that already. Now if you excuse me…I have to relieve J'onn from monitor duty."

"And Diana" she said to her back. "We both made our choices…..just like you and Bruce."

'Yes….and Bruce moved on' Diana thought, a hint of bitterness mixed with her regret.

----

An hour later,

Diana was busy at the computer terminal, catching up on the years past by. She had covered four of the sixteen years since the breakup of the league. And although some files were locked, she had got a general idea of the general progression of time – including the attack on Wayne Manor, the Lords taking control of American, British, German, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Russian and French governments and finally the attack from Apokolips. That was four years, two months and twelve days from the day the vote and the two and half months later, the unthinkable happened – Superman died.

----

Just as Diana finished reading the section about Darkseid's attack on earth, a file icon appeared in the middle of the screen. The name just said 'For Diana – No.1'.

Intrigued, Diana opened the file and found that it was a video file.

"Hello Diana"

Note: Just a shameless pitch for 'Symmetry', my latest DC-JLA fic. Its quite different from my usual work as well as from the others I've come across so far. Just give a read...you'll like it. Thanks - BW