Chapter Six: In Danger (Part Two)
The first thing Helena was aware of was a slow, melodious beep. It was seemed like it was coming from a large drum, meant to carry out over the plains of Africa, signaling a war. In reality, it was her heartbeat on the monitor. As that fact penetrated, Helena wafted back into a sleep and unconsciousness combination. In dreams, she relived the traumatic last memory she remembered.
Helena remembered that the night before she'd gone undercover, Nathaniel had taken her out to dinner. He'd borrowed the image projector from Batman, so that he was once again the man she'd first been attracted to. They hadn't been recognized, and had a nice, normal date. She'd been bored. She'd remembered that any and all dates she and Q had gone on had been either a) wild, b) crazy, or c) extremely entertaining. However, even that had been too much after a bit. Helena could never seem to find the balance to have a good relationship.
The dream got hazy, and when it refocused, it was after the date. She and Nate had made it back to that satellite home in the sky, and he was walking her back to her quarters, which were still across from Q's, as if even Martian Manhunter had a sense of humor about the situation. Nate had kissed her on her cheek, and walked away. He wasn't even around the corner when Q's door opened up. He'd said nothing. She couldn't even tell if he was looking at her, but she knew. She felt it. He'd sighed and stepped back, closing the doors, and leaving her with an oddly guilty feeling in her stomach. Helena didn't do guilt. The next day, she was undercover.
Once again, the dream hazed and refocused. She was on the side of the building now. The warehouse. The last thing she remembered. Then, she was falling. Someone was screaming. This time, it wasn't her.
Helena jerked awake, unwittingly pulling her IV and causing another jerk, this time in pain. At the small moan of sound she'd let slip, someone rushed to her side. That sound was echoed on the other side of her bed by someone else.
"She's waking up," a faintly Southern sounding voice said that Helena recognized as Nate's.
"Go get the doctor."
"Why should I? I'm her boyfriend, you go!" Helena didn't have her eyes open, but she didn't need to. She already knew who was mirroring Nate's stance on the other side of her bed. It was the Question.
"You're her boyfriend now, but I was her boyfriend before."
"Yeah, and she dumped you."
"There was no dumping. We lost touch."
"Oh, so is that what you're calling blowing her off for a month? If that's the way you treat her, no wonder she likes me more. I actually talk to her, you know."
Helena could feel the smile in Q's voice, even if she couldn't see, though even with her eyes open she wouldn't have been able to see it. "We didn't need to talk. We did other things."
Nate growled, yes, growled. He doubtless would have made a reply, but a scream echoed into the room again, and Helena opened her eyes. She started to speak, but all that came out was a croak. With a small drink of water, courtesy of Q's quick hands, she managed to utter one word. "Who?"
Nate and Q gave each other a look, and simultaneously knew who she meant. "That's Black Canary."
"What happened?" Helena asked, happy to have been able to make a full sentence...sorta...
Nate sighed, and squeezed Helena's non-IVed hand. "Me and Batman arrived on scene right after you fell. We immediately got you to a hospital, but Black Canary got away. After we made sure you were alright, we sent for back up and started looking for her. Unfortunately, Green Arrow had already gone after her. They fought."
Nate didn't say anything else for a minute, obviously finding whatever he had to say difficult. Helena turned to the one man who'd tell her anything. "Q?"
"She killed him. We caught her right after, and brought her here. Someone had put a microchip in her head, programmed her to kill Justice Leaguers. You were her first victim, and Green Arrow, her last. He died."
"Black Canary?" Helena croaked, her throat was throbbing now.
"We got the chip out, but now she must deal with what she's done." Nate made his feelings very clear on the subject. Nate had no or little sympathy for her, his military background making it all very objective to him. After all, being a superhero is just like being in a constant war. Casualties are expected.
"She's fine, Helena," Q added, drawing Helena's gaze back to him. Even through his mask, they connected, and for a few seconds, they were alone in that room. It was like it'd always been when they were together. Animal attraction. Almost psychic proportions of understanding. Then Helena remembered how he'd left her. No word, spoken or otherwise. She looked away.
"Where is she?"
"They have her in a secluded room down the hall. She's not taking the news that well," Nathaniel explained. Q removed his hand from Helena's and left the room. At first Helena assumed he was leaving, but then he returned with the nurse, one of the few normal humans allowed to work on the Watchtower.
"Hello, Ms. Huntress...how are you feeling?" The pretty nurse, a blonde, asked, moving Nate and Q off to the sidelines to watch as she took pulse readings, temperature, and all that good stuff. "You took a nasty fall."
"No shit," Helena replied before she could help herself, a sarcastic and sure sign that she was gonna be alright.
"Helena," Q said sternly, not telling her to be nice, but making the instruction clear anyways. Helena was so weak, she didn't even argue.
"The doctor will be in here in a few minutes. That means visiting time is over. Boys, move on out!" The nurse said, no longer the sweet young thing she'd been a few minutes ago. The name "Nurse Ratchet" came to mind.
Q was the first to come to her side. Ignoring the glares of Nathaniel and Nurse Ratchet, he leaned down, and brushed the cheek of his mask against her own real cheek. It was really a sneaky way of telling her something he obviously didn't want the others to hear.
"It's been taken care of." Helena turned her confused eyes to the faceless mask, and he explained. "We got those that were behind it all. The metabattle rings won't be going up again."
Helena nodded, and Q took his leave, not sparing a single glance for either of the other occupants of the room. Nathaniel didn't have eyes for anyone but Helena. He was back in his natural blue-ness, and Helena, staring at him, realized she liked him better that way. It suited him better than the dark blonde Southern boy look.
"You worried me," he said, as usual when he was Captain Atom only a whisper of his accent coming through.
"You're not my type. Why do love me so?" Helena said in a hoarse voice.
Nathaniel shrugged and walked to her left side, the one Q hadn't been on. "I don't know. I think it has to do with you being able to kick my ass."
"Baby, I would never do that. It's a very nice ass."
Nathaniel laughed and leaned over to brush a kiss across her forehead. "I'll be back after the doctor leaves."
Helena smiled for the first time. "Can't resist me?"
"Never."
Nathaniel left, and the nurse went with him. She had a few minutes alone. The two men in her life had worried about her. It was a nice feeling to know that someone cared. She'd been alone for so long. Then, she'd found Gotham and a new purpose for life. She hadn't been accepted then either. Helena had lived a hard life, as did most superheroes. It was part and parcel of what being a Hero was.
There were footsteps in the hall, and Huntress tuned her ears to the noise. Two men, tall, one wearing something metal that was clinking against something else. Doctor, stethoscope. Who was the other?
Helena got her answer. Nightwing. Batman's exiled protégé. Her former fiancé, kind of.
