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Chapter Five
Save Me
Images…so many images from her life flashed in her mind…
There was a very beautiful island, a peaceful paradise, and she could see the happy and beaming face of her mother, her queen…
Her sisters, so many of them…they were sparring together, they were teaching her how to fight, how to handle different weapons, how to become a warrior as her mother proudly looked on…
Then there was the sun, and the worried face of her mother as they spoke about something, about fire, about a threat, about a mission…
Then she was taken to another place, a different world…
It was night, she was fighting someone wearing a dark mask… but he wasn't wearing a cape…
Then…a house, a yellow farmhouse with a towering wind vane that spun even in the night…
A family picture…
A friendly face…the kindest blue eyes she had ever seen…
Kal…
Kal was teaching her how to dance…
Someone was singing a song… "If I believed in paradise, I swear I must be there…I swear I must be there right now with you…"
Another face, a very handsome face with deep blue eyes…
Bruce…she was dancing with Bruce while someone sang the song.
Bruce was laughing…
It was so long ago…he hardly even smiled now…
I love you…
If they only could his eyes would have burned through the glass by now with the intensity of his stare as he looked through it with a desperation, wanting so very much to smash it into pieces with his fist in frustration.
He wanted to be by her side, he wanted to know why this was happening.
But if he let his emotions overtake his mind it would not help, it would not save her. So instead he stood by at a distance, watching uselessly as she now lay quiet and asleep, almost lifeless though still breathing.
She's still alive was all he could think of.
Then…he remembered all that had happened.
She was just doing her duty and he ignored her, was even irritated that she had to be there because he let his emotions get in the way. If only he had been there sooner.
Blood. She bled. He tried to shake off the image of surprise then fear in her eyes upon seeing her own blood, so much of them in her hands for the first time. And he could still see the remnants of blood on him, on his chest, on his gloved hands.
"What's happening to her?" He finally found the strength to ask as he whispered but not once taking his eyes away from her unconscious form through the thick glass that separated them, that pronounced even more the great distance between them, between life and…death.
"I have taken care of the wound. But she lost a lot of blood." J'onn was beside him with his consoling voice. But the Martian could not find the right words to say to lessen the hurtful effect of the truth.
"What's really happening, J'onn?" This time, Batman turned to him. And the voice, he had never heard such emotion from the usually cold and detached tone.
"She's…dying."
J'onn felt it. It felt like a long and very sharp blade slowly plunged the way to Bruce's heart that he felt his friend flinch inwardly at the dreadful words. And, he could not face him. He could not bear to look more into his friend's mind because of the pain.
Pain was a private emotion.
And Bruce was in terrible pain.
"She can't die." It was not whispered to state a fact, rather, it was mentioned more to convince himself that she was not dying, she simply could not and must not die.
"Her vitals are getting weaker each passing second. She's fighting, but I don't how long she can hold on."
You can't die…
Fight, Diana…please…
I need you to fight…
At the moment, he felt that he would give anything he could to save her.
There were so many things he needed her to know.
"How is she?" Superman almost burst into the room.
"We are losing her." With Superman, it was easier for J'onn to answer.
The Man of Steel looked at the almost lifeless form of his friend before his gaze slowly turned to Batman's tense and unmoving form beside him. And it was evident on Bruce's hidden face, by the way he silently gazed at through the glass, whether he admitted it or not, that he cared for Diana more than he thought he did.
It had to be true for the curse to take effect. Superman looked back at Diana as he thought.
Silence filled the room, a very uncomfortable and sad silence as they all gazed at the unmoving form of the remarkable woman they all knew.
But emotions aside, J'onn had to be professional and detached. And his mind wondered, seeking the answer to the mysterious events. Despite all the medical breakthroughs, the high-tech machines, it all still seemed futile and hopeless. It was very unexplainable how even one of the strongest people he knew could be dying at a simple injury.
It seemed that there was an unseen force that was sucking the very life out of her body.
The Martian moved away from the two men and stepped back slightly as if giving them space and allowing them the time to grieve the imminent loss of a loved one, the death of a good friend. Yes, it was the truth they had to prepare for. She was going away forever and there was nothing they could do.
Quietly, J'onn left the observation room. When the door quietly settled into place, Superman closed his eyes and thought hard about what he knew he had to do.
Forgive me Diana…but this is the only way I know how to save you.
He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. "I can't lose her now," he whispered in a tone that was loud enough to be heard by the man beside him. "Now that we've just…" He paused, willing himself to go with the deception. Diana…forgive me…
"We haven't even told anyone yet about the good news…" He let his voice trail and guiltily felt the effect when Batman suddenly tensed before turning to him.
"What good news?" Batman turned to him.
He touched his palm to the cold glass as if trying to reach her in asking her forgiveness. "We…we are together."
The sudden change in heartbeat, the abrupt intake of breath were both audible enough to him, enough to imply that Batman was nowhere near delighted, nor congratulatory at the unwelcome news. Instead he was met with a strange expression of partially hidden surprise and disbelief and totally concealed anger.
"Since when?"
The lies just kept coming. "Just before you went to an assignment together."
A nerve angrily twitched at the side of Batman's face, belying the unaffected demeanor he was trying to project, as he turned to look at Diana one last time. And without a word, he left the room.
I'm sorry Bruce…Superman stared at the lonely sight of a closed door and felt the weight of responsibility while convincing himself that it had to be done to save his friend.
Then, his face turned back to the prone figure on the bed through the glass when his hearing picked up a distinct and familiar sound. A machine beside her bed was beeping incessantly.
J'onn phased through the room, alerted the same way by the apparatus, momentarily blocking his view. After a series of short and standard examinations, the Martian turned to look at Superman in total surprise.
"Superman…"
"What, J'onn?"
J'onn smiled. "She's awake."
And as J'onn gladly stepped away from blocking his view, as if he could not see through the Martian, he saw the faint glimmer of a smile on her eyes and lips as she tried to raise a hand and wave at him.
"Hello," she mouthed weakly at him.
He smiled. "Rest, Diana." I'll explain later.
"Next, please." Her face smiled at him in request as she sat obediently on the small medical bed, clothed not in her uniform but the customary white medical gown.
"Chew first before you swallow," Superman reminded her.
Looking at the steaming bowl that contained her food that he cradled in his left hand and a spoon that seemed too small on his right, she had to laugh. His face, as he sat next to the bed, wore an expression of confusion.
"Kal…that's just soup you're feeding me," she complained.
"Well…" He looked embarrassed as she continued to look at him in amusement. "Stranger things have happened. And I don't want you to choke on mushroom soup. J'onn would be furious."
She had to admit he had a point. She had fever from rain, she did not heal immediately from a simple cut. Choking on soup did not seem too farfetched at all, she thought as she took in another spoonful.
"I could choke on a lamb or a pork chop," she hinted. "Or even on the juicy meat of fried chicken. But on soup…"
"Complain to J'onn. I am just a willing nursing assistant."
"Kal…I'm too stubborn to…die." She noticed a sad expression pass on his face. "And I'm not going to…not three days before Christmas and miss out on all the gifts. Besides, don't you have anything better to do than nurse?"
He eyed her suspiciously. "Someone has to stay and guard you. Not to mention, feed you."
She initially argued that she could very well make use of her hands to eat by herself. But J'onn and Superman were being overly protective by insisting that she be fed. And when she was told that she would have to be content with a soft diet, she protested even more because fighting for her life felt like she just ran a marathon and she was famished. But arguing with two very powerful males, and just recovering from a near death experience, could certainly take its toll and make her agreeable.
"How are you feeling?" He asked after placing the now empty bowl and the spoon on the small bedside table.
She leaned on the pillows that he propped and placed on her back. "I feel…like nothing has changed at all." Like I wasn't dying minutes ago. She gingerly touched her neck. "See…there isn't even a trace…"
There was not even a scar. That meant her healing powers were restored and that what happened was just some sort of a warning, a wake up call to jolt her to her senses.
His eyes followed the small movement of her right hand. "Diana…" He searched her face. "I know what's happening to you."
She looked away from his searching gaze and stared blankly at her fingers that were playing at the edges of the soft covers that lay draped from her waist down as she remembered telling him once about a secret.
"The curse." Her voice was but a whisper.
He leaned in slightly and reached out, taking hold of one of her hands, as if to make her face him. "As a friend…I need to know." His voice was gentle. "Are you…in love with him?"
She took a deep breath and finally lifted her gaze to his. "Yes." For a moment, she thought that he would be a little angered but instead, he continued staring at her intently that she had to avert her gaze once more. "Nothing has changed."
He looked at their joined hands on her lap and felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility. If only what happened years ago did not happen, if only he did not insist…
"But…for the curse to work, he has to feel the same way." Her voice interrupted his thoughts. "I don't think he does."
Bruce was never known to be one to ever admit his feelings, even to himself. If it had to, his feelings would die with him without anyone ever knowing. But Superman was certain that there was a moment, somewhere a few moments ago, when Bruce did not care at all if they saw an emotion that he hardly ever displayed when Diana was lying almost dead in front of them. There was the fear of losing, losing someone he cared for. If it was not love, it was definitely something close.
"He may not…at least not yet." He searched for the right words. "But I know he feels something for you."
She looked at him doubtfully. "Then he has a weird way of showing it."
"If you only could have seen him…"
She did. Before she blacked out, she felt the concern, even through his mask.
Maybe, maybe he did care, that he was starting to feel stronger towards her. But whatever those feelings were, she was certain they were gone. They had to be or else she would not have made it through, she would not have woken up from that terrible experience. Unless…
Then, a thought occurred to her, as she deeply sought the eyes of her friend.
"Kal…" What did you do? It was the unspoken question. "Kal…"
He took a deep breath and just stared at her for several uncomfortable seconds. "Forgive me Diana. It's the only way…" He gave her hand a soft squeeze. "I told him…we are together."
As he stared at her face, there was no change in expression at all. Her lips did not move, her eyelids did not flutter, but her heart was beating fast.
"Diana…I'm sorry."
So that was it. Bruce's love could kill her.
But his anger could save her.
What good was a love that could fade just as easily? He did not even give her the benefit of the doubt.
But then again, it was Kal who told him the news. And Kal's word was as good as the truth.
Kal…dear Kal. She wondered how it might have hurt him to tell a lie. She knew he upheld the truth so much that it probably cost a lot to cause a friend pain that could save another friend's life.
A faint smile hovered at the corners of her lips. "You saved my life." She squeezed his hand. "You shouldn't be sorry for that. I know I am not."
She was smiling, but he could feel the pain she was feeling at this very moment. If only there was another way.
"Kal…" She spoke softly, calling his name. "You don't have to worry."
He looked away, his eyes and mind traveling to a memory that should have been forgotten. "If…I didn't make it happen. None of this---"
"Shhh…" Another tug on his hand. "It was fate. No one could prevent that from happening."
What kind of life was it? When someone so beautiful, so kind, so brave, so wonderful, could not be allowed to love and be loved? His thoughts went further. And felt an amount of selfishness when, sometimes, he wished for an ordinary life that he could live. Diana could not have that ordinary life.
"Maybe…there is a way we can stop the curse." His thumb rubbed the soft skin of her hand. "Just tell me who to…approach."
"I don't know." There probably was not even a remote chance for her salvation, unless the gods themselves interfered. But if they wanted to, her mother would have told her already.
"Diana…after all you've done. Maybe your gods can help."
Sometimes, sacrifices were not enough. "It's my fault Kal. I've been given many warnings. And still…"
"You should not blame yourself."
There is no one else to blame but myself, she sighed.
She looked at his face and was suddenly, ironically, thankful. At least, she was being given another chance at life, to help fight the good fight, to serve the world, to have special moments like this with her very cherished friend. "Hey…lets not think about it. I have a new life now." She was finally smiling a different smile, a heartfelt smile. "I even have a boyfriend."
A same warm smile escaped him. "You think we can convince them?"
She smirked. "We've convinced one so far. And as far as I'm concerned he's the only one we need to convince."
"Just…" He was hiding a smile.
"Just what?"
He was looking at her funny. "Just don't fall in love with me."
She remembered her exact words to him. "No one will be able to save me if that happens." She leaned over and kissed his left cheek. "How can I ever repay you?"
"All I can ask for is that you…talk to J'onn," he requested. "He may be able to help."
"I know." She gave it some consideration. "And I owe him an explanation for everything. My emotions recently have been giving him a lot of headaches."
"It's settled then." He gave her hand one last squeeze before standing up. "In the meantime, I'll be finding a temporary replacement for your assignments."
"What?"
"You need the time off."
"No, I don't." Her relaxed posture was beginning to become tense. "Kal…"
He looked at her form. "You are still not at one hundred percent your usual strength."
She looked wide-eyed at him. "I am back to my usual self now. Want to test me?" Her eyes challenged. "Schedule a session at the training room and I'll show you."
He laughed. "I don't give preferential treatments…even to my very best friend."
She threw a pillow at him. "Kal…"
"Okay…we'll see," he conceded and placed the pillow on her feet. "After your session with J'onn."
Her shoulders slumped. She knew him too well. "Alright."
She did not want to impose on J'onn, well, at least, consciously impose on him because she knew she had been unconsciously imposing on him ever since her emotions started taking over. And the best way to do it was to find a time to talk to him when he was not preoccupied with assignments.
The next day, she got what she wished for and thought that she was still, somehow, in the favor of her gods. J'onn's schedule was free.
Wearing a civilian outfit of a simple white t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, her hair tied up behind her, her bracelets and tiara missing, she walked to his room. Upon reaching the door, she stared at the thick slab of steel before her for a good many seconds before lifting her hand to push the intercom.
"You may come in." The door slid open.
She smiled and entered the room. Hesitantly, she asked, "Are you busy?"
"I'm just preparing for your arrival," his voice answered gently. "I knew you'd come."
"Am I thinking too loud?" Her hands were absent-mindedly feeling the soft fabric of the couch as she stood behind it.
"Yes." J'onn smiled. He felt the uncertainty from his friend. "But you don't have to worry, your secret is safe with me."
Your secret is safe with me…She remembered telling someone the same words, a long time ago.
"Shall we begin?" He indicated the couch. "I think it's best if you sit down."
She sat opposite him, with just a small table in between. Her eyes looked beyond him, to the neatly arranged books and some other items on his desk. She knew she was stalling.
He did not prompt her. He felt all the conflict, and some of the pain and he knew that if he rushed anything, she might not open up the way she had to. And he had to admit, the recent events concerning her health was too confusing even for him. He also needed the answers as much as she did.
Then she took a deep breath and began.
"It was all a lie, J'onn…" Her voice trailed.
"What is?"
"When everyone thought the first time I came to this world was when we fought the invaders." She faced him and noticed a small amount of surprise on the otherwise stoic face.
He could not recall anyone confirming her presence before the invasion, before the league was formed. He waited for her explanation.
But instead of continuing, she looked away again. It was harder than she thought it would be.
"If you want to make it easier, I can just read your thoughts."
She smiled ruefully at him. "No…I want to hear my own voice." She took a pillow and placed it on her lap.
This was going to be a long day.
She sighed. "I was sent on a mission. That was when I met…Bruce and Kal for the first time…more than a decade before the league was formed."
Somewhere distant
"Are we operational?" A male voice spoke through a secure line, a very secure line.
A very familiar deep voice answered. "Not yet."
"When?"
"Less than a week," the deep baritone answered.
The man blew a smoke from a cigar. "That's too long---"
"These things take time."
"We've wasted enough already."
"And you're wasting mine with these useless inquiries."
"Fine." The uniformed man conceded. "I just want this to be finished before the New Year. Just like they say…a new year…a new begin---"
He was not even finished when the line went dead. And shook his head at the thought. He is just like…him.
