Part 16
Dinah waked into the room to see Roy pacing back and forth. "Wearing a hole in the floor isn't gonna do anyone any good Boyo." she said.
Roy jumped slightly at the unexpected sound of her voice and turned to face her. "Dinah?...I didn't hear you come in." he replied.
"That's pretty obvious...She with the doctors?"
"Yeah...They'll talk to me once they've finished examining her. I wanted to stay but they wouldn't let me." Roy said as he began to pace again.
Noting the stressed demeanor and dark rings under his eye's Dinah replied."I wonder why...You don't half radiate tense, concerned husband vibes much now do you?"
Roy paused."Ollie told you everything?"
"Of course he did, you didn't expect him not to did you?"
"Well I...No I guess not...I just wanted to tell you some of it myself is all."
"Well I wish you would have...But Ollie needed a diaper changer, and I was first on his list, so he had to explain some things."
"He called you in to change a diaper?" Roy asked raising one eyebrow.
"Well there are some things that even Ollie isn't brave enough to tackle." she laughed softly. "Look Boyo..I want you to know I'm not going to be on your case about this...Ollie and I both agreed that although we don't like the way you left us out of the loop, we also understand that your situation is far from normal. Having Lian in your life means you have no choice but to think about Cheshire's reaction to something like this." she paused and placed the duffel bag she was carrying on the floor. "Though thinking about it before you leapt in boots and all might have been a better idea."
"I did think about it...I just thought about it more afterwards that's all, I woulda told everyone eventually..I just wasn't sure if I should face Chesh and tell her before it became common knowledge...I mean if she reacted badly, at least I'd..."
"You'd what?...Get your ass kicked and not have anyone watching your back? Or you'd figure out that you'd have to tell everyone anyway because you'd need some of your friends and family to watch out for you and support you? I've got news for you Kiddo, that's what families do..It's about time you started to realize that. Your not alone in the world Roy... we're all here for you..if you just remember that you'll run into a lot less heartache in the future."
Roy hung his head..Dinah was right, he knew that. He was just so used to facing the world on his own that it had become almost second nature...He knew Dinah was there when he needed her, and he and Ollie had patched up their differences, but he still occasionally slipped back into thinking the way he had when times weren't so good..when he had to make decisions for himself and face whatever consequences came with them. "I'm sorry." was all he could think to say.
"Don't be sorry Kiddo...lectures over...Your starting a new life here, you've got a beautiful family and although I haven't met Rachael I know she has to be pretty darned special to knock you off your feet like this, be excited! The future's looking bright for you Boyo." she said as she approached him and pulled him into a hug. "Now...I've thrown a change of clothes in that bag for you...you'd be best to change out of your costume while your here. The media's having a field day with this, their all over this like a rash. Not only is the kidnapping and murder a big story, but you've made headlines yourself."
"Me?"
"Well you and Rachael..they had pictures on the news of you climbing into the ambulance with her, and they've put two and two together, anyone in a costume is fair game in the media world. There's a bunch of them waiting outside to hospital for you to walk back out..So when you do it had best be in civies if you want to get past them."
"Shit..if Chesh didn't know before, she will now." Roy cursed, as he picked up the bag and went to change.
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Later that evening Roy sat beside Rachael's bed...He had been relieved to know that she would recover from the broken ribs and otherphysical injuries she had received. He wasn't so sure about the emotional damage though...but then emotional damage always wounded more deeply than physical damage could, he knew that from his own experiences. She had woken up a few times throughout the afternoon, and although she had seemed in good spirits, especially in front of Dinah, Roy knew she was holding a lot of things back, things that would eventually come to the surface. He ran a hand through his hair and yawned..God he was tired he thought as he leaned back in his chair and closed his eye's.
A gentle hand on his shoulder jolted Roy awake, he glanced at Dinah confused, before realizing he had fallen asleep.
"A brought you a coffee...But that's not what you need Boyo...you need to go home and rest." she said softly.
"No..I'm fine, just resting my eye's for a minute." Roy said as he sat up and accepted the coffee.
"Crap..it's more than your eye's that needs resting, you look terrible."
"I'm not going anywhere Dinah..this is where I belong at the moment."
"Dinah's right Roy..you look terrible, you need to go home." Rachael's gentle voice drifted from the hospital bed.
Roy set his coffee aside and leaned over to take her hand in his. "I'm not leaving you here alone." he said softly.
"Honey..go home, please..At least check on Lian and Sam, I'll be fine."
"Lian and Sam are fine, Ollie's with them." Roy replied as he gently pushed a few strands of hair away from her bruised face.
"Roy..." Dinah started.
"No Dinah!" Roy cut her off firmly.
Rachael focused on his eye's, she was tired.. and having Roy here made her feel like she had to keep putting on a brave face, she loved him for being there for her, but now she needed him to step back a little, allow her some time to herself to sort through the emotions that she was having to suppress. "Please Roy..I need some time alone."
He looked at her, saying nothing for a moment, not sure if he should feel hurt or concerned or what he should do.
"Ok that's it Boyo..Your going to stop smothering this poor girl and come with me." Dinah said as she pulled the reluctant red head to his feet.
"But I...I." he looked at Rachael once more. "Oh all right, but I'm gonna be back early in the morning." he finally mumbled as he leant down to gently kiss her goodbye.
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On opening the door to his apartment, Roy stepped in and froze..."What the hell?" he said shocked.
Dinah pushed past him and stopped dead, Ollie had been asleep on the living room rug and little Sam had been curled up beside him, both had awoken as Roy and Dinah had entered.
Roy looked around, the apartment was in chaos, toys were scattered through the kitchen and living room, childrens books and videos spread all over the floor, the remains of a half hearted attempt at some sort of cubby house construction out of blankets was laying over the kitchen table, and the sofa and arm chairs had been pushed aside.
"Have fun?" Roy asked as he cocked one eyebrow.
Little Sam climbed to his feet and toddled as fast as his chubby little legs allowed, over to Roy and put his hands up to be picked up.
"Hey little buddy." Roy said scooping the boy up.."What the...What's he got all over him?" He asked as he held the toddler out away from himself and frowned in distaste.
"Oh that...peanut butter and jelly..That's what he had for dinner." Ollie said as he sat up.
"Ollie, peanut butter and jelly?..What kind of food is that to give him for diner." Dinah scolded.
"Well I woulda given him some of the chilli I made but Lian said babies don't eat stuff like that.
"CHILLI." both Dinah and Roy said at the same time.
"Yeah well, you didn't exactly tell me what to feed him." Ollie mumbled.
"Or how to change a diaper." Roy chucked.
"Hey...That's not exactly my area of expertise you know...You weren't exactly in nappies when I took ya to live with me." Ollie said in an indignant voice.
"Ok..I'll concede that point, we didn't exactly get to run through the parenting skills you'd require...But Lians obviously in bed asleep, they've both been fed, Sam looks happy and you survived the day..So all in all I think you can give yourself a pat on the back old man." Roy said as he headed towards the bathroom with the sticky toddler.
Ollie waited until Roy disappeared before flopping back on the rug.."Old man?...I feel like an old man after today...I don't know how the hell he does this...Give me Deathstroke any day." he moaned.
End 16