Sixty-one
"We've got to get him to a hospital," Kali said frantically, from the backseat of Wally's car. "Something's terribly wrong with him!"
Flash moaned, groaned, giggled, and laughed, twisting and rolling on the back seat of the car. Kali tried to hold him still, and keep pressure on his wound, but it was nearly impossible and his thrashing about was getting blood everywhere.
Wally looked down at Flash. "We've got to find a quiet place. I need to call the Watchtower for help."
Kali knew that they could not return to either of their apartments. "Why don't we take him to Uncle Marty's?" she suggested. "It's just around the corner from here," she said pointing in the direction of the convenience store on the corner.
Wally pulled up to a pay phone in the parking lot of the small convenience store on the corner.
"I've got to get some advice from the doctor, quick," he said before jumping out of the car and racing to the telephone.
Kali stared down into the contorted face of her beloved Flash. She stared in morbid fascination as the expression on his face transformed from pain into pleasure and back again. His giggles and peels of laughter changed into moans of pain and agony just as quickly. She had never seen anything like this. It was almost as if Flash were enduring a private battle within himself. Wasn't there anything she could do to help him?
Suddenly Flash's body stopped moving and his face went blank. He stared through her with fixed, unblinking eyes.
"Flash?" Kali asked softly. "Please… don't die," she cried. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. He was cold, as cold as ice! "NO!" she commanded, opening her eyes, angrily. "You're NOT dead!" she yelled, beginning to panic.
As she stared into his face, his appearance began to change. His complexion greened, his eyes darkened to an odd shade of red/black and his body bulked growing longer and larger. The red costume slowly transformed into a pair of blue shorts with red suspenders, blue boots, and matching blue cape. Flash's smooth red mask, melded into the flat surface of a green bald scalp. Her jaw dropped open; Kali's superhero had completely transformed into a familiar looking alien being.
"J'onn J'onzz!" she whispered.
Sixty-two
"What do you mean there's no one else at the Watchtower?" Wally said worriedly, into the pay phone.
"They're all out on missions. I only just got back from one myself," Superman replied. "What's the problem?"
"It's J'onn, he's been shot, and acting very strange. I don't know anything about how to treat Martian bullet wounds and he is acting very strange. One second he is moaning in pain and the next he is laughing his butt off! Can you check with the doc on what I can do for him?"
"Hang on, just a second. Let me check," Superman answered.
He put me on hold! Wally thought. I do not have TIME for this! He glanced over at Kali and J'onn in the car. From his where he stood, he couldn't see much. All he could see was the top of her head. She appeared to be looking down.
Good, he thought. She's not flipping out on me. I can't imagine what she thinks of all this. She was just starting to get used to the idea that I am both Flash and Wally. What must she think now?
Wally leaned his head back against the brick wall of the convenience store. What was keeping Superman!
"Wally?" Superman said hurriedly, "J'onn can't handle the warm temperatures of Earth's atmosphere for very long; but moving him while he is bleeding from a bullet wound is the worst thing you can do for him right now. Cool him down, keep him quiet and I will be there with the portable medi-kit. We can do the surgery to remove the bullet when I get there, then I will transport him back here. Got it?"
"Okay, but hurry. This isn't a pretty sight," Wally answered. "Oh… and Sups?"
"Yes?"
"We'll be at Marty O'Malley's place. You got the address on file, right?"
"Got it."
"Great."
Wally hung up the phone and quickly slipped into the convenience store to pick up a two large bags of ice. That ought to do it, he thought.
He walked back to the car as fast as 'Wally' could be seen moving. I hate moving at this snail's pace! he fretted. He wished he were dressed in his costume so he could move about more speedily. Alas, there can't be two Flashes wandering around the neighborhood at the same time nor would Flash drive a car!
Wally's thoughts turned to his friend, who lay bleeding in the car. I should have insisted J'onn morph into 'Wally' instead of 'Flash,' he chastised himself; maybe then, J'onn would not be fighting for his life from a bullet meant for me! He was determined to get J'onn through this.
Lugging the two fair-sized bags of ice out to the car, Wally popped open the trunk and loaded the hefty bags into it. As Wally opened the car door, he caught a glimpse of J'onn.
"Kali, he morphed?" Wally asked, stunned.
Kalin nodded. "Just a few minutes ago, Wally. He's very cold too. We'd better get him to Marty's right away," she said nervously.
"Listen, Kali, I'm sorry for not telling you everything, but…"
"We can talk about it later," Kali said, cutting him off.
"Right," Wally said quietly. Oh great! Wally thought, now she thinks I lied to her because I kept this all a secret from her. How could I have told her the truth about J'onn posing as 'Flash' for me while I was stuck wearing a 'bug'. I might as well announce to the whole Police Department that Wally West is the superhero Flash! Clark Kent never runs into problems like this! he groaned.
Sixty-three
As they pulled into Marty's driveway, Wally spotted Superman standing at the front door. He was carrying what looked like a large brown leather briefcase.
"We need to make this fast," Superman said, handing the briefcase to Kali. He leaned into the back and carefully lifted J'onn off the seat.
Kali ran ahead to unlock the door and hold it open for them.
Wally, awkwardly juggling the two large bags of ice, followed Superman and J'onn into the house.
"Quick!" Superman said urgently, "Where's the bathroom? I need to lay him down in a tub."
Kali pointed, "It's right behind that door," she answered.
Kali and Wally followed Superman into the bathroom and watched as Superman gingerly lowered J'onn into the bathtub.
"It looks like a clean wound and the bleeding has stopped," Superman said sighing with relief. He turned his puzzled face to Kali and Wally, "There is no bullet," he said impatiently.
"You mean the bullet went clear through his body?" Wally asked surprised.
"No, there is no exit wound and there is no bullet," Superman explained.
"He got shot... There was a gun... There has to be a bullet!" Wally insisted.
"I'm telling you, there is NO BULLET, Wally!" Superman repeated.
"Look again, maybe you missed it!" Wally shot back.
Superman looked annoyed. "Wally, I have x-ray vision; if there is a bullet in there, I would have seen it."
"Unless it wasn't a normal bullet," Kali suggested.
"You might have something there," Superman said, bending down and quickly opening the leather attaché case. He pulled out a flat, 8" by 10" square metallic instrument and placed it on top of J'onn's wounded abdomen. The instrument itself began to glow and projected a perfectly clear holographic image of J'onn's internal organs directly above J'onn's abdomen.
A computer-generated voice began speaking. "J'onn J'onzz, Martian physiology. Patient is in perfect health, except for minor laceration to abdomen extending through the stomach wall and high toxin levels in the blood and body fluids. Recommend laser induced healing by Procedure MMH536 for laceration and Procedure MMH322 for intoxication."
"Intoxication? As in drunk?" Wally asked in disbelief.
"That is correct. Shall I continue with the recommended procedures?"
"Yes… yes, of course!" Wally stuttered. "He's drunk! How can he be drunk?"
"My x-ray vision shows that there is a straight line of toxin beginning at the entry point of the wound extending to the stomach wall. Apparently the bullet was a toxin that dissolved," Superman explained.
"That bullet was meant to dissolve in me…" Wally realized. What is the chemical compound?" he asked.
"Looks like a mixture of Cessatrixide and Neurotocin, neuro-muscular inhibitors that slow the body's organs, muscles, and nerves," Superman replied. "If I have my chemistry right, this bullet would have paralyzed, if not killed you."
Kali and Wally exchanged glances. "J'onn saved my life. This bullet that made him drunk would have killed me." Wally leaned his back against the wall, for support.
"The procedures have been completed. Patient will be ready for transport once his body temperature returns to normal," the computer stated.
"How long will that take?" Wally asked.
"Twenty minutes, if the patient's body is covered completely with ice," the computer responded.
"Okay, let's do it," Wally said ripping a bag of ice open.
Superman carefully packed up the medical kit and began dumping the open bag of ice onto J'onn while Wally ripped open the second bag and did the same.
Sixty-four
"I'm sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner, Margo, but this is the first chance I got," Marty explained, apologizing into his cell phone. "I only just got your message…. No, I really don't think there's anything to worry about. You worry too much…. Kali is a big girl, if she skips a glass at the University, she'll learn soon enough that there's a price to pay. I remember those days; part of college life is learning to be responsible for yourself."
Marty steered his car into the convenience store on the corner near his home and parked his car near the entrance.
"I gotta go now, Margo… What?... Yes, I'll pick up some milk and eggs at the corner store…. I won't forget! How can I forget, I'm there right now!... Yes, really! How 'come you never believe me?... Oh, well,… I had a reason to lie that time… it was your birthday! I couldn't very well tell you I was picking up your birthday present, could I!... Yes, I understand… the family motto… no secrets… yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Love you too… bye now."
With a big sigh, Marty shook his head, "Women!" he said as he climbed out of his car and sauntered into the store.
As he entered the store, he glanced at the magazine rack to see if anything interesting caught his eye. Most of the good magazines were issues he had already seen. He was about to walk away, when the new Sports Illustrated magazine got his attention. He pulled it out and thumbed through it, completely immersing himself in the articles and photographs of the magazine, forgetting everything else around him.
Suddenly, his stomach began to rumble, so he put the magazine back and wandered over to the freezer section of the store to see about getting some lunch. He didn't feel like preparing anything complicated, so he dismissed everything that required more than a quick zap in the microwave. There was a fine choice to pick from, he thought. Pizza rolls, pizza slices, pizza burgers, pizza sticks, and pizza enchiladas. Not able to select only one, he decided to buy them all. After all, he thought, it would save him a future trip to the store, right? That saved on gas… that meant more money to spend on food. He was actually getting a great deal by purchasing everything in this one trip, he concluded. Grabbing one item of each, he carefully piled the groceries on top of each other and took the wobbling pile to the cashier.
Twenty-three dollars and forty-seven cents later, Marty left the convenience store parking lot and drove down the road to his home, without the milk and eggs.
As Marty pulled into his driveway, he saw Wally's car parked along the road. Great! Wally and Kali are here. Margo will be relieved to know Kali's back home," he thought. He parked his car and unloaded the bag of groceries.
"Hey Wally! Kali! Boy am I glad you're both here. You'll never believe…" his voice trailed off, as he stood open-mouthed in the middle of his living room staring dumbfounded. Sitting on his couch, munching on Frito corn chips, and drinking cream soda was, Kali, Wally and Superman! Superman!
"Superman? Is that really you?" Marty said, dropping the bag of groceries.
Superman smiled and rose to his feet, "Yes, I am Superman," he said, extending his hand.
Marty extended his hand, giving Superman a good firm grip, testing him.
Superman smiled knowingly and tightened his grip. "Yes, it's really me, Marty."
"Wait!" Marty ran off and came back with a shiny new lead pipe. "Can you bend this for me?"
"How do you want it bent?" Superman asked with a curious look on his face.
"Like a pretzel," Marty answered without hesitation.
Marty and Kali watched in awe as Superman twisted the pipe into the shape of a pretzel.
"Wow!" Marty exclaimed. "Thanks! Look Kal, Wally! He's really Superman! Wait! Can I get your picture?" he begged.
Superman smiled, "Sure, Marty."
Wally shook his head and retrieved the bag of groceries Marty left on the floor. "MMmmmm pizza rolls! My favorite! Marty, can I cook these up?" he asked, not waiting for an answer, disappearing into the kitchen.
Marty came running into the room, "Okay… here it is," he said, holding up the camera. "Wow! This is great, Superman in my home! Unbelievable!" Maybe I can have a shot taken of Superman and me together! Margo will flip! he thought. "How about a shot over by the fireplace, Superman?" Marty suggested.
Superman stepped over to the fireplace and rested one arm on the mantel. "This okay?" he asked.
"Sure. Perfect!" Marty snapped two shots. "Kali, wanna take one of me with Superman, please? That okay, Superman?"
Superman smiled politely and nodded.
"Okay, Marty," Kali said, taking the camera from Marty.
"Pizza rolls are done!" Wally announced cheerfully, carrying a tray full of steaming hot pizza rolls into the living room and placing it on the coffee table beside the corn chips. "Get 'em while their hot!" he called.
Kali snapped a picture of Marty staring up at Superman.
"No! Don't take one that way! I wasn't ready!" Marty insisted.
"Okay," Kali said, "Tell me when you're ready."
"Wally!" Marty said, spying the empty tray on the coffee table. "You didn't eat ALL the pizza rolls!"
"Huh?... Oh. I SAID get 'em while they're hot!" Wally answered back. "You didn't want some, did you?" he asked.
Marty shook his head, "I haven't eaten lunch yet!" he said angrily.
"Why don't I make up some of those delicious looking pizza enchiladas?" Wally offered.
"Good. Don't eat them all!" Marty warned.
Superman waited patiently by the fireplace.
"How about that picture?" Kali asked, waiting for Marty to get into position.
"Oh yes, thanks Kali," Marty said, circling back around to Superman again.
"Pizza enchiladas for anyone who wants one!" Wally said, returning with a fresh batch of steamy pizza enchiladas.
"You're not going to eat them ALL, are you?" Marty warned.
"Oh no, of course not!" Wally answered, smiling.
"Ready?" Kali asked holding the camera.
"Yes," Marty answered. "NO!" he screamed as Kali snapped the picture with Marty's mouth hanging open.
Everyone turned their attention to Wally and the lone pizza enchilada.
"One? You left one?" Marty said sarcastically.
"Yes, here you go!" Wally held out the tray for Marty, who grabbed the last enchilada and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Can we get another picture?" Marty asked sadly.
Superman smiled, suppressing a laugh, "Sure, Marty. No problem."
Marty took his place back at the fireplace mantel beside Superman. "Don't you move, don't go in the kitchen, don't eat anything. Got it?" he said insistently to Wally.
Wally smiled innocently. "You got it, pal," he replied smiling.
"Okay. Kali?" Marty asked, glaring at Kali.
"Okay Marty, this is the LAST picture in the camera. You better make it a good one," she warned.
"Everyone, DON'T MOVE!" Marty insisted loudly.
"Okay, say cheese," Kali urged.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!" said Superman.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!" said Marty.
Kali snapped the picture.
"Thanks Superman, thanks Kali," Marty said, taking the camera from Kali. As he walked into his bedroom to return the camera everyone heard Marty scream, "NOOOOOO!"
"What's wrong?" Kali called.
"Why didn't anyone tell me I had pizza enchilada all over my mouth?" Marty yelled.
Everyone burst out laughing.
"I HEAR you!" he yelled from the other room.
When Marty returned to the living room, he found a coffee table full of warmed-up pizza slices, fresh-cooked pizza burgers, and steaming-hot pizza sticks.
"We thought you might be hungry," Kali said politely offering the tray to Marty.
"I can't eat all this alone, come-on everyone, join in!" Marty said warmly.
"What's going on in here?"
Everyone turned around to see Margo standing in the living room entranceway.
"Margo!" Marty came running up to her, "Come here, meet Superman!" he said enthusiastically.
Superman popped the pizza stick he was holding into his mouth and wiped his hand with a napkin. After chewing quickly and swallowing his food, he cleared his throat. "Excuse me. Margo is it? It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, extending his hand to her.
Margo blushed, "Superman?" She gently took his hand.
"Can you believe it? He's really here!" Marty whispered loudly in her ear.
"Why don't we get a picture?" Margo asked.
Marty frowned. "We're out of film, Margo. Here have a slice of pizza," he urged trying to change the subject.
"Pizza? Where…? Oh yes, you went to the store," Margo took a small slice. "And I thought you'd forget. Silly me. By the way, did you replace that pipe in the bathroom yet?"
Marty tilted his head to one side, as though he suddenly remembered something.
"What's the matter?" Margo asked Marty, curiously.
"I have to step out a minute."
"What? Where are you going?"
"Nowhere. I'll be right back."
"Marty…no secrets, remember?" Margo warned.
"If you MUST know, I'm going to the store for… milk… eggs… and… a new lead pipe," he said sheepishly.
"Don't you want something to eat?" she asked.
Marty looked at the now empty tray and food bowls on the coffee table, "Uh, no thanks. I'll grab something out," he said, as he slipped out the front door.
Margo shrugged her shoulders and picked up the tray and bowls to take to the kitchen. It was nice having a little impromptu party, especially one with a superhero in attendance.
Sixty-five
Wally was relieved to see J'onn walk into the living room. "J'onn! How are you feeling, buddy?" he asked.
J'onn looked around the room. "Where am I? I don't remember a thing."
"You got shot," Wally began.
"You saved Wally's life," Kali interrupted.
"What?" J'onn looked confused.
"Do you remember being at my apartment?" Wally questioned.
"Yes, I was morphed as Flash," J'onn replied.
"Someone came to the door, remember that?" Wally asked slowly.
"Yes, I think it was Kali…?" J'onn asked.
"Yes, it was me," Kali cut in. "Monocello had me at gun point. He said he wanted to talk to Flash, but instead he shot him… er… no… I mean… you!" Kali hesitated. "I'm so sorry, I…" she tried to continue, but could not, her voice thick with tears.
Wally put his arm around her to comfort her, "Kali, I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault; it was mine. I am the reason you got into this in the first place, I'm the reason J'onn ever got involved in the first place. It's all my fault. Don't cry, my Kali girl." He held her tightly against him.
Wally couldn't bear to see her cry, all he wanted to do was carry her away from all this… take her somewhere, anywhere, a place that she could relax and smile… perhaps to a nice secluded island. Wally closed his eyes and leaned his head against hers, wishing they were there right this moment. He sighed. The thought of the two of them lying on a blanket, on a sea of smooth soft sand, listening to the calming sounds of the ocean waves lapping against the shore as they roll onto the sand, brought a sense of peace he wanted to share with her.
"Hey!" J'onn interrupted. "I appreciate everyone wanting to take the blame for my injuries, but the fact is the only person to blame for my injuries is me. I helped Wally because I wanted to help him. It is what we do. We put others before ourselves because we care; so don't anyone go taking the blame for a gift I freely give."
"I'm sorry," Kali apologized wiping the tears from her eyes. "You're right."
Wally nodded. "Thank you, my friend."
"So, where am I?" J'onn asked, looking around the room.
"You're at my Uncle Marty's house," Kali answered beginning to feel better.
"Marty? Is he the same fellow I met at your apartment, Wally?" J'onn asked.
"Yes, that's him," Wally said, laughing at the memory of Marty's shocked expression at J'onn morphed as Wally's duplicate.
"Well, if you don't mind… I'd like to return to the Watchtower," J'onn said politely. "I could use some fresh cool air," he explained.
"Yes, I think that's a good idea. You should have the doctor look at you. I used the new portable medical kit on you, but as you know, it's still rather limited on its diagnostics," Superman explained.
"So, they finally fixed the holographic problems?" J'onn asked excitedly.
"Yes, but there is still a problem with running diagnostics for certain species," Superman replied. "The Human diagnostic systems crashed again, and there were programming code conflicts in the Thanagarian and Kryptonian settings."
"I'm glad the Martian diagnostics were up to speed," J'onn said thankfully. "I appreciate your help, Superman."
Superman nodded. "Let's get back to the tower," he suggested.
"Listen Wally, with all that has happened; I think the security of your apartment has been seriously compromised…" J'onn stated firmly.
"No…" Wally interrupted. He knew where this was going. He did not want to move again, especially now that Kali moved in right upstairs!"
"I think it's time for a Code 7 relocation," J'onn said adamantly. "We'll discuss this later."
"Nooo…" Wally repeated. "The bad guys are in jail… Can't we just do a sweep of the apartment and get rid of the hidden video equipment?" he pleaded. "I don't want to move."
"We'll discuss this later," J'onn said. "For right now, I want your costume, scrap book, photo albums, anything that would suggest a connection to Flash out of your apartment before the police show up. You know your place is a crime scene now. In fact, that whole apartment house is going to be scrutinized by the police, so the sooner you're out of there the better for all of us."
"But…"
"I said 'not now'."
"You sound like my parent," Wally complained.
"You act like my child," J'onn retorted.