Ok folks here is chapter 2.
I'm so delighted to read your reviews, it means a lot for me. Thank you; hope you'll still like it with this second chapter.
VietAngel : it's not an AU, and this Helena is the same as the one in the show, you'll discover soon the "why". And giving constructive criticism is not being picky, far from it :D
Disclaimer, please see chapter 1.
The End, chapter 2
Paris, that's where they were heading. She was so delighted to come back to the city in which she was born that she began dancing around the room. She'd show Dinah all her favourite places, all those she discovered with her mother years back.
How it must have changed … she'll have to use the Delphi, under Barbara's close control of course, to check things before going. Maybe go to the library and take a Lonely Planet guide as well. Well knowing Barbara she might even be allowed to borrow her laptop with the promise of returning it safe and sound.
As she opened the door she came face to face with Bruce Wayne who had a large plastic bag in hand.
"Hey sweetheart where are you going ?"
"Have to check things out with Barbara before leaving. I'm sure Paris changed a lot and …"
"You two have a rendez-vous ?"
"Not really, I'm going to make her a surprise, we have lots of catching up to do"
"Helena, can I talk to you for a minute ?"
"Can't it wait ? It's late and I want to catch her before school …"
"It's important Helena."
He guided her back into her room, and they sat side by side on her bed.
"You shouldn't go visit Barbara"
"And why is that ? I've not seen her in a month. Surely she's back from her trip abroad"
"You know Nolan ? Well I've got the feeling it's getting serious between them so they might want to spend some time by themselves"
"Nolan ? Never heard of him …. how would you know anyway ?"
"Barbara called earlier as you were in the shower, she didn't know how to tell you so she asked me to"
"I don't believe you. Barbara wouldn't keep anything that important from me. Not on purpose"
"She said that you tend to be impulsive when it comes to feelings"
She stood up, surge of fiery fuelling her.
"I lived with Barbara for many years and she couldn't tell me directly ? She needed a messenger ? I can't believe that !"
Grabbing her jacket from the back of her door, she stormed out, muttering under her breath. Barbara had betrayed her. She was seeing someone but didn't want her to know ? Wasn't she there for her after Wade was murdered ? Didn't she prove her caring enough ?
Shaking her head, Helena tried to block the visions assaulting her mind : Wade's body as they found it lying on Barbara's bed, an other sick game of that psycho's bitch ; how Barbara had traced the lines of his face with her fingers, as if trying to burn them into her memory ; how she had been all Oracle's business before allowing her to break through her walls and help her. Help her grieve and accept his death. It had been tough times for all of them, but she thought that Barbara was fine now.
She didn't hear her father call after her, too caught in the ragging feelings coursing through her. She still had some time to kill before she was due at work so she decided to pay a visit to Barbara anyway. Might she like it or not, she'll talk to her … and that Nolan guy might better not stand in the way.
Already moving into her old place had sounded odd. The clock tower was certainly safer for her, especially after Harley Quinzel's little visit. But she hadn't questioned Barbara about it. She had left New Gotham on a teachers' exchange program shortly after that.
As she made her way into Barbara's old place via the balcony, Helena was assaulted by two things : silence and a distinctive smell. Maybe she had left early for school, that would explain the silence but not the smell … death and pain. She could also smell Barbara : sweat but with an other scent she'd recognize anywhere, blood.
Blood, the thought reasoned in her head, painfully. It was coming from Barbara's room. Whatever happened here earlier was bad, lots of pain, her nostrils flattered as the scent assaulted even more strongly as she entered her bedroom.
Thank god, no 'police line, do not cross' plastered everywhere, or body drawn on the ground.
She'd feel Dinah's scent as well, she has been in there not so long ago, maybe the day before.
The sheets on the bed were messy, still traces of sweat, blood and saliva on them, as well as on the pillow. Not much, a few droplets but still, they were there, like a living proof of an earlier drama. Bending down, she retrieved an oxygen mask from under the night stand and brought it up to her nose, Barbara's scent. And some more droplets …
What the hell was going on ? Why would Dinah visit Barbara in the middle of the day while she was supposed to be at school ? And why would Barbara need an oxygen mask for ? There was something going on and she didn't like the feeling going up her spine.
With one last predatory look around the place to make sure she didn't miss any more important clue, she jumped out, following Barbara and Dinah's scent trough the city.
As she feared, she ended up at the entry of the emergency room of New Gotham General.
End of chapter 2 – You know I live for reviews…