Eighty-one

Emotionally drained and tired from the stress he had been through in the past 24 hours, Flash looked forward to a good nights sleep. He was too tired to think straight and just glad the worst of his nightmare was over. Tomorrow he would have to look for a new apartment and begin packing. He hoped that the police had finished sifting through everything in his apartment so he could pack up and move on.

As the group filed out of the conference room, he saw Superman heading his way.

"Back already?" Flash asked him. He was sure that Superman could not have accomplished very much in the short time he had been gone.

"Oh yes, some missions don't take much effort," he said casually. "How did the rest of the meeting go?"

"You didn't miss much. I've been downgraded to a Code 3. Tomorrow I have to pack up and find a new place. Listen, thanks for your help and all. I really appreciate it."

"It was no problem at all, Flash. Listen, what are you going to do about Kali now that you don't have to deal with a Code 7. Do you think you can straighten things out with her? She really seems like a terrific girl."

"She's amazing," Flash said, melting at the very thought of her. "But I still think it would be better for her if…"

"… you weren't a part of her life?" Superman finished his sentence. "I know. I know."

"What? You think I'm making a mistake?" Flash asked.

"Mistake? No, why would letting go of the most wonderful thing in your life be a mistake? Go ahead; throw away your reason for living."

"What's gotten into you, Sup?" Flash asked, looking at him as if he had three heads.

"Oh nothing I suppose. You just got me thinking about the decisions I'd have to make if something did spark with Lois Lane."

"What? You'd let her endanger her own life to be with you?" Flash shook his head.

"Flash, you don't know that," Superman argued. "Haven't you considered that your presence around her is also protection? It's not much different then the protection you give to Central City. Do you feel that, your presence in Central City brings more danger than protection?"

"No, of course not! or I'd have to leave," Flash argued.

"Exactly," Superman said confidently, standing with his arms folded across his chest.

Eighty-two

"Thanks for the advice," Flash responded. "I'll think about it," Flash said, walking away.

"I'm sure you will," Superman replied with a curious look on his face.

Flash shrugged his shoulders. "G'night" he said, heading for the door of his room. He was looking forward to collapsing on the bed and putting an end to this miserable day.

As the door to his room swished open, he yawned loudly and stepped into the room.

He froze in his steps, not believing what his eyes saw. "Kali?" he said, eyes wide with disbelief. He rubbed his eyes and blinked convinced he was seeing things.

"Yes. It's really me, Flash," she said quietly.

Eighty-three

A myriad of thoughts and emotions ran through Kali's mind. She had come a long way to have her say, and she wanted to remain angry so that she would be strong and firm when she saw him, but now, seeing him face to face, she began to waver as her love for him washed over her anger.

Superman had been very kind to come pick her up and bring her to the Watchtower to see Flash. He hadn't said much to her on the trip up there, but he did allude to the fact that Flash was miserable without her.

On the trip up, she had wondered what she would say when she finally saw him. Even now, she worried that maybe this was not such a good idea after all. What if he really did not want her anymore? She certainly did not want to push herself on him. How pitiful is that? she thought, a rejected woman refusing to give up. Is that what I am? she wondered. Could he have changed his mind about her and really wanted out?

"You left without giving me a chance to say anything," Kali said sadly.

"I'm sorry, Kali," Flash apologized, taking slow deliberate steps toward her.

"I came here to have my say and then I'll go," she explained, her voice trembling with emotion.

Flash moved closer to her and sat down beside her on his bed.

"Flash, I thought we agreed to be honest with each other. Remember, no secrets?"

Flash nodded, "Yes, but…"

"No, please don't say anything until I'm done. I deserve that much," Kali interjected. The nearest of him, was distracting her. She could feel the warmth of his body and smell the dizzying scent of his after-shave.

"Flash," she began again, rising off the bed to distance herself from him. She avoided his gaze as she continued, "I thought everything was great between us. I don't know what happened to make you change your mind. Whatever your feelings and reasons for breaking up with me may be, you certainly are entitled to them; but don't make the mistake of presuming to know what's best for me, especially without consulting me," she said firmly.

She paused, daring to steal a glance at the expression on his face. Up until now, she had avoided looking into his eyes for fear he would interrupt her and she would lose her nerve. But, the look on his face broke her resolve. His love for her was unmistakable. His countenance brightened the moment their eyes connected: she watched his pain and sorrow give way to joy and adoration. He truly loved her, at least as much as she loved him. She could see it in his eyes and feel it in her soul. She felt his pleading eyes beg for her forgiveness, searching her soul for a confirmation of her willingness to love him back. No, she realized, whatever it was that was bothering him, breaking off with her was not because he did not love her.

Overcome by the need to answer his unspoken questions of her love for him, she moved close beside him. She reached up and put her arms around his neck as she poured her heart out to him, "All I know is that I love you, all of you. I love your sense of humor, your impatience, and your insightful ways of looking at things. I love your droll remarks and your ability to find humor in the everyday things of life. I love the way you smile at me, know when to hold me close and how lift me up when I am down. I love the exuberant little boy in you whose face lights up at the mere mention of pink cotton candy and superhero comic books. I love the big strong protective man whose heart's desire is to save the world, even at the expense of his own life. I love everything about you that makes you who you are."

She removed her arms from his neck and stepped back, to look directly at him, face to face once again. "You see Flash, you aren't one man living two lives… you're just like the rest of us, a person with many interests, talents, abilities, hopes and dreams. Regardless of what you call yourself, you still remain the same person, the man I love."

She leaned in and seductively wrapped her arms around him, planting a long passionate kiss on his willing lips.

She broke the kiss and whispered into his ear, "And, I love that you eat fast and kiss slow."

Eighty-four

Flash held Kali close, not wanting to let her go. It seemed like an eternity since he was with her last. How in the world could he have ever contemplated living a moment without her? She was the very air he breathed. He closed his eyes and gently rested his forehead against hers.

"Kali, do you believe in love at first sight?" Flash asked calmly.

"Love at first sight?" Kali smiled, "I suppose it's possible, why?"

"Because that's when I fell in love with you," he murmured peacefully.

Kali laughed.

"What's so funny?" he asked concerned she was laughing at him.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I remember how you looked when I first set eyes on you," she said giggling.

"Oh yeah. I guess I wasn't looking my most dashing with pieces of the kitchen ceiling sticking out of my hair, was I?"

"But the second look, now that was worth the wait!" she said dramatically, leaning affectionately against him.

"Kali, I want to take you out to a nice romantic place for dinner tonight. What do you say? We don't have to stick around here now," Flash suggested eagerly.

Kali glanced at the Flash's unpacked suitcase in the corner. "Don't you have to stay here?" Kali asked looking confused.

Flash looked puzzled for a moment, "Oh, you mean the Code 7 relocation! No… no… no. That's been changed, I don't have to move now… Well, that's not entirely true. I do have to move to a new apartment, but it's not a full Code 7 now, it's only a Code 3 relocation now."

Kali looked blankly at him. "What is a Code 7?" she asked slowly.

Flash laughed, "I'm sorry, I keep forgetting," Flash took a deep breath before explaining. "In order to remain a member of the Justice League, there are certain rules and regulations each member agrees to abide by. When a member's home, life, or secret identity has been threatened, the League requires a measure of precautionary protective action. Different remedies are required based upon the severity of the threat. All remedies are referred to as Codes 1-7, Code 7 being the most severe. A Code 7 relocation involves a complete change… cut all known ties, …grounded to monitoring Watchtower duty for seven months, …return to new location, … new apartment, …new job, …new secret identity, …new life, whereas a Code 3 only requires moving to a new apartment."

Kali nodded, taking in the information. "I understand."

"I've got to be very careful about be tracked or connected with anyone. When Sarah and Vern Monocello traced me to my apartment and took me, my cover was nearly blown. The League originally felt that I needed to leave town and start over." Flash's gaze fell to the floor, "I just couldn't do that. My life is here, this is my hometown. Everything I've ever known is here," he said sadly.

"So, you refused the Code 7," Kali replied.

"Yes, but not without some debate," Flash added. "If it had not been for J'onn's help, morphing into Wally and then later as Flash, I might not have had a choice. I thank God that his actions reinforced that Flash and Wally are two different people."

"So, why do you have to move at all?" Kali asked curiously.

"It's just a precaution."

"So, you were leaving me because of the Code 7?"

'Truthfully, no. A Code 7 would have meant I leave everyone, but I broke things off because I was afraid for your safety. I thought by being around me, your life was in danger. I wanted to spare your life. I thought it was too much to ask of you: Risking your life is too high a price to pay to be with me. I'm sorry." Flash averted his eyes and hung his head.

"But Flash, that's not for you to decide. It's my life, my decision," Kali said gently.

"I protect people, Kali. The very idea that anyone, especially you could be in danger because of me tears me up inside."

"Don't do this to yourself," Kali looked up into his eyes. "Think about it, can you guarantee my safety by leaving me?"

"No, but you wouldn't be in danger because of me," he replied.

"That's a selfish attitude," Kali said angrily.

"But Kali…"

"No, Flash, I mean it. It doesn't matter what I think or feel?"

"Of course that matters. You mean the world to me, I… " Flash felt defeated. "You don't understand."

"What I understand is that everyone must make their own life decisions. How would you like me to tell you not to be the Flash? How would you like to be grounded because I fear for your safety?" she argued.

"What?" Flash had not expected this. "I have to be the Flash. It's who I am."

"But Flash, your life is in danger, you'd be much safer just being Wally West the auto mechanic," she snapped back. "What if I said, 'No more Flash!"

"But…It's not your decision," he said hesitantly, the words weighed heavy on his tongue.

Kali smiled knowingly. "Right."

Eighty-five

Marty and Margo had just finished eating and settled down in the living room to relax in front of the television.

"Anything good on tonight?" Marty asked Margo, as he pressed the 'on' button on the remote for the television.

"Don't know… what time is it?" she glancing up at the clock on the mantel. "Seven o'clock already? I wonder how Kali and Wally are doing?"

"I'm sure everything's fine, she'd be back here if it weren't," he said unconcerned.

Marty pressed the remote channel selection button, racing through the different channels at what appeared to Margo as lightening speed.

"Slow down! How can you even see what's on?" she reprimanded him.

"I can tell," he said, pressing the button more slowly.

"Let's catch the seven o'clock news," Marty said, spotting Ron Bevins on the screen.

"Ron Bevins here, from W3DTV, reporting live outside the First District Courthouse."

Ron was standing on the barren steps of the Courthouse as he addressed the camera. "Former police officers Vernon Monocello, Joseph Carter, and George Rowe along with alleged accomplices Carl Jensen, and Vincent Wade were arraigned on drug charges this afternoon. They have been accused of running a cocaine network that flooded south Central City with drugs over the past three years. Over six million dollars worth of cocaine was confiscated in an apartment undergoing renovations at 227 Speedway Circle."

"That's my old apartment house!" Marty exclaimed.

"You mean the one Kali is using?" Margo asked.

"Yes. Carl Jensen is the Super there. Wow, they are charging him with drug trafficking charges. Who would have thought?"

They returned their attention to the news program.

Ron continued his report, "All men are under arrest and have been ordered held without bail. Jury selection is expected to begin sometime this week. The District Prosecuting Attorney expects this to be an open and shut case as the evidence is overwhelming. Our local hero, Flash, and police mechanic Wally West were instrumental in aiding the police with the sting operation that brought this drug ring down. We have some video footage taken of Flash earlier today at the crime scene."

The television screen showed brief footage of Kali and Wally helping an injured Flash walk through the parking lot. Ron's voice could still be heard, "Flash declined an interview: He was injured in the final confrontation with Monocello and was being taken for medical treatment. He is believed to be doing well."

As Ron continued his reporting, video footage of Carl and Vinnie's escape appeared on the screen. "Thanks to our on the spot reporting we have filmed coverage of Jensen and Wade's attempted escape. Dressed in women's clothing and wearing bedroom slippers, Jensen and Wade tried to make their escape on foot."

Margo and Marty burst out laughing at the sight of the two men in make-up wearing bath towels around their heads, dressed in women's clothing and furry slippers. They appeared to panic at the sight of the television camera and took off, running clumsily across the street. The camera followed the two men fleeing from the police officers who had recognized them.

"Let's have a look at the lighter side of the news. The ever-popular Fanfiction internet website for fiction writers is flourishing. Reports show that more people are turning to the internet for their recreational reading needs, as there is a plethora of stories to choose from. Be sure to check out the stories and please leave reviews to encourage the writers. Oh yes, for those of you who don't know, I'm a personal fan of the Flash of the Justice League cartoons, so, writers please let those stories pour in!"

"Does Flash know they have fictional stories on the internet about him?" Margo asked Marty.

"Yes, he even posted a few himself. You know what a ham he is!" Marty laughed.

"What name does he write under?" Margo asked, she wondered what kind of a writer he was.

"He won't tell me. He says knowing one secret identity of his is enough," Marty replied chuckling. "I have my suspicions though."