Adventures of Supergirl 7x20
Wayne Manor
Jeremiah tossed and turned in discomfort in the master bedroom Kara had given him. He awoke and flexed his right mechanical arm feeling pain travel from his chest down to his shoulder stump. Realizing this could be an issue, he went to the bathroom, washed his face, and took some pills. As he did, he heard a female voice in his head.
"Yes," she said repeatedly.
Jeremiah ignored the voice having been accustomed to having voices in his head from his old Cadmus days. He went back to sleep not thinking much of it.
The next morning, Kara made preparations for a grand birthday party on the Wayne Manor lawn. "This is chaos here and not the good kind. We're running out of time. This has to be perfect, damn it. It needs to be exquisite. Aim for the stars," Kara ordered a Brainiac 5 drone.
"Of course," Brainiac 5 humored her.
"And I want his favorite flowers everywhere. The lights cannot be too bright but they can't be too dull either. If food is the prose of a party, then lights are its poetry," Kara told him.
"Everything will go according to all of your specifications," Brainiac 5 assured her.
"Barney, am I going out of my mind?" Kara asked.
"That ship sailed long ago," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
Kara dismissed him away and entered Wayne Manor where she met up with Jeremiah reading a Gotham Gazette. "This is going to be so cool. The president may even come," Kara gushed.
"The president's got better things to do than to come to my birthday party," Jeremiah said, not enthusiastic with President Biden attending.
"Can I have a minute to talk about things?" Kara asked as they walked around the grounds.
"What's on your mind?" Jeremiah asked.
"I'm thinking to give you a Viking funeral with fireworks. I know that sounds morbid as fuck but it will also be super cool on the lake. I bribed all the right officials to make it happen. What do you think?" Kara asked brightly.
"Good," Jeremiah said simply.
"Just...good?" Kara wondered wanting desperately his approval.
"Kara, I trust you. This is your thing," Jeremiah said as he poured himself some coffee.
Alex then entered the room giving Jeremiah a haunted look. "Hey, why don't you sit down, relax, and get some food in you," she said condescendingly seeing Jeremiah's poor health.
"I swear, he does this to piss me off. I have to go see Barney again on food preparation," Kara said as she looked at her smartphone.
"Do you need me to help?" Alex asked awkwardly.
"No, you got patients to deal with. I got this," Kara said possessively.
"I hate parties," Jeremiah muttered.
"You're going to love it," Kara said giving Jeremiah a hug and then walking off.
"Isn't it enough to be 55 without everyone reminding me about it?" Jeremiah asked thoughtfully.
"No," Kara shot him down as she left.
"You should relax and just enjoy it. It's going to be great for her psyche," Alex advised.
"How do you know?" Jeremiah asked suspiciously.
"Kelly told me," Alex replied.
"Do you follow everything she says?" Jeremiah asked skeptically.
"Don't be like that," Alex scolded.
"I don't want to interfere...," Jeremiah began.
"Then don't," Alex interrupted.
Kelly then arrived with a perfect smile from a DEO helicopter. "Hello, beautiful," she said as she gave Alex a kiss right in front of Jeremiah on the lawn as Brainiac 5 drones continued their work.
"Good morning, Kelly. Thanks for coming," Jeremiah said politely.
"Well, it is your big day," Kelly said cheerfully. "Any thoughts?"
"I did hear a voice last night in my sleep," Jeremiah revealed.
"Well, what did it say?" Kelly asked going into shrink-mode.
"Yes," Jeremiah said simply.
"Sounds positive," Kelly said naively.
"Maybe, who knows? You know how voices are," Jeremiah said vaguely.
Mon then suddenly appeared on the lawn and walked up to Jeremiah with Kara with him. "You look cool as a cat," Mon complimented Jeremiah's all-black combat uniform that clashed violently with the sunny day.
Jeremiah gave him a handshake, something he did not do for Kelly. "Remember, everyone at the mansion for dinner, tonight," Kara reminded them all and then went back to work.
Jeremiah, Alex, Kelly, and Mon entered the helicopter for a ride to Metropolis. As soon as they lifted off, Kelly became distracted by a call from a patient. Mon smiled at her listening in on the juicy details of her patients' personal problems. Jeremiah and Alex sat together slightly away from Kelly and Mon. "Do you love Kelly?" Jeremiah asked softly.
"You mean how you loved mom?" Alex asked sarcastically.
"Forget about me and your mom. Are you going to marry her?" Jeremiah asked.
"Probably," Alex said coyly.
"She's smart, she's kind, she helps a lot of people deal with their issues," Jeremiah allowed.
"So, what's the problem?" Alex asked accusingly.
"You need excitement, thrill, and passion. I want you to get swept away out there and be deliriously happy," Jeremiah said.
"If I were your son, would you be telling me this?" Alex asked.
"Well...no," Jeremiah said wondering where she was going with this.
"The fact is, I'm the man in this relationship, and I'm okay with that. I don't need a partner that is going to provide for me, keep me safe, and give me a Cinderella story," Alex said.
"You can't always be the man and you won't want to. With you, two, there must be a balance. I know it's old-fashion thinking but...a woman needs a father figure in her life," Jeremiah advised.
"Bravo, Dad. It only took you ten minutes to tell me your disapproval of my orientation," Alex said peeved.
"You're tough," Jeremiah realized. "This isn't about men and women, male and female. This is about femininity and masculinity being complementary and fulfilling. If you have both traits, great, but she needs both those traits, too."
"Well, who knows? Lightning could strike and she could be an entirely different person from the one I know and love," Alex rolled her eyes.
The helicopter landed on a helipad just outside Metropolis. Jeremiah looked flustered as he heard a female voice repeating what he had said to Alex. "Excitement, thrill, passion," the voice mocked him.
"You alright?" Alex asked him as he walked about aimlessly.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. You should get going to the hospital," Jeremiah said.
"Do you need a cab?" Alex suggested.
"No, I'm good," Jeremiah said and then walked off.
"I'll keep an eye on him," Mon said helpfully to Alex and followed closely behind Jeremiah as he wandered about Metropolis lost in thought.
Alex gave him a concerned look, gave Kelly a kiss goodbye, and then took a cab to the hospital.
After work, Alex and Kelly met at a coffee shop. "James, you have to get over yourself. If she messes with you, she messes with me. That's it, I'll be right over. Well, okay then. I accept your boundaries," Kelly said hanging up. "I was talking rather loud. I'm sorry. It's just that James and Lena are so frustrating and fascinating at the same time as a couple.
"Sorry," Alex said lamely.
"Don't be sorry. It's just the way it is for men and women. Nothing lasts," Kelly said pessimistically.
"Yeah, I agree," Alex said for her benefit.
"Why? I'm curious," Kelly asked.
"I was just trying to be agreeable," Alex admitted.
"You see, I can always tell," Kelly pointed out.
"Maybe that's the problem. If you can read me like a book, where is the thrill, the excitement, the passion?" Alex asked quoting her father.
"Well, I think we've had enough adventures for a lifetime, don't you think?" Kelly asked obviously.
"It doesn't have to be near-death experiences with aliens and terrorists. What about the little things?" Alex asked. "I mean, don't you feel the excitement of not knowing how my mind works?"
"It's hard to turn off," Kelly admitted. "Alex, if we were married, I would take care of your needs and care for you as you would I. I mean, what's wrong with me taking care of you? You take care of me."
"My father seems to think I need a masculine presence in my life, someone that is strong, confident, decisive, and providing," Alex said.
"Those qualities aren't just reserved for men. You and I both have those qualities," Kelly pointed out.
"It's just you're so feminine, Kelly. A part of me wants to tell my father to go to hell but another part wonders if he knows what he's talking about. Do I need masculinity in my life?" Alex wondered out loud.
"If that's what you want in this relationship, all you need to do is ask," Kelly said accommodatingly.
"I don't want you to be something you're not," Alex said concernedly.
"We can change as people. I have to admit, I sometimes want you to be more feminine sometimes. When was the last time you wore a dress?" Kelly asked.
"Well...I," Alex wondered.
"Exactly," Kelly smiled.
"I have to go," Alex said unsettled by the conversation, her lunch break was over.
"Did I say something wrong?" Kelly asked going back to shrink-mode.
"No, it was just so right, it scared me," Alex admitted.
"Look, I don't want to examine you like a shrink and you don't want to examine me as a patient. So, let's agree to give ourselves some mystery," Kelly proposed.
"Okay," Alex agreed, gave Kelly a kiss goodbye, and walked off back to the hospital.
Kelly went the other way a little flustered. She knew Jeremiah didn't approve of her, and Alex, herself, seemed to be having doubts. She also had trouble turning off her shrink-mode when it came to Alex. She loved her but also knew that clinically, she was in real need of therapy. Kelly walked across the street lost in thought. She suddenly dodged a car going past her only to get hit hard by a van, crushing her ribs, was thrown into the air, hit a cab windshield with her head going the opposite direction, and fell to the pavement broken. The onlookers gawked in horror as Kelly was clearly dead.
Wayne Manor
That evening, Kara sat across from a despondent Jeremiah to discuss the party. "Music, alright. I want to make sure I play your favorite tunes, and I don't give a shit if it causes everyone else to go to sleep."
"Good," Jeremiah nodded not bothering to hear the selection she picked out.
"Are you listening to a damn word I've said?" Kara asked peeved.
"What, honey? Sorry," Jeremiah said proving her point.
"Come on, what the fuck?" Kara said pissed off.
"Yes," a voice in Jeremiah's head said. Jeremiah ignored Kara and looked around for the voice.
"Dinner is served," Alfred informed them.
"Never mind, leave it to me," Kara said condescendingly.
"Did you miss me, Jeremiah? I missed you but what do I get back? No excitement, no thrill, this relationship has no passion to it. I'm waiting outside the front door," the voice said as Jeremiah sat down for dinner.
"Alfred, is there someone at the front door?" Jeremiah asked finally.
"I didn't hear a ring, Sir," Alfred replied.
"Have a look, would you, please," Jeremiah insisted.
"So, I got the governor, the mayor, chairman of the FCC, the UN Secretary-General, nine senators, a few dozen congressmen, and twelve of the fortune 500," Kara listed off.
"Are any of them, athletes? Someone I can talk to?" Mon asked bored.
"You're right, Mr. Danvers, there was someone at the door. She's waiting for you in the foyer," Alfred informed Jeremiah.
"Show her to the library. Tell her I'll be right there," Jeremiah ordered.
"Yes, Sir," Alfred said taking off.
As Kara prattled on about the party, Jeremiah abruptly left the table and made his way over to the library.
As he entered the library, Jeremiah took a pistol out of his pocket and looked around. "Hello? Anyone here?" he asked as he scanned the room.
"Quiet down," the voice said to him.
"Where are you?" Jeremiah asked as he heard the voice from everywhere.
"I'm here," the voice said menacingly.
"Is this some kind of joke, an elaborate prank? One time, the guys and I delivered a casket to the office of a Bolivian president and...," Jeremiah recalled.
"Quiet," the voice told him.
Jeremiah slowly backed out of the room. "Where are you going?" the voice asked him.
"I've assessed the situation and I'm leaving," Jeremiah told the voice.
"The great Jeremiah Danvers on the retreat? The man that invaded Hell and put Lucifer in his place? You going to bitch out on me?" the voice scolded.
"What the fuck is this?" Jeremiah wondered. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"Just think of millenniums multiplied by eons compounded by universes without end. I've been around that long. But it's only recently that your affairs have piqued my interest. The most significant element in existence has come to see you," the voice said.
"Not impressed. What do you want? Jeremiah asked losing patience.
"I want to have a look around before I take you," the voice said sinisterly. "Be my guide and, in return, you get minutes, days, weeks. Let's not squabble over the details. What matters is that I stay interested. The answer is and has always been yes."
"I'm not going to play your game. You want me, take me now," Jeremiah refused, holding up his pistol.
Death then revealed herself in Kelly's body. Jeremiah immediately lowered his pistol. Death came over to Jeremiah and stared at him with a frozen expression on her face as if to study him. "Who am I?" Death asked him.
"Death?" Jeremiah asked.
"I am," Death confirmed.
"Bullshit, you're just some spirit that's possessed Kelly's body," Jeremiah doubted.
"Don't test me, Jeremiah," Death threatened as a houseplant suddenly turned to ash in the room. "I don't need a gauntlet nor a snap of my fingers. All I have to do is will it."
"We all have a master. You don't threaten me, Death. We all answer to God," Jeremiah told her off.
"You will find that the Lord gives me great latitude to conduct my duties. If you fail to cooperate with me, it won't be just yourself I will take but your daughter as well," Death threatened.
"Fuck you," Jeremiah said pointing his pistol at her heart.
"You going to kill Kelly in this library for Alex to find? You'll be sent to jail and then I'll take your heart while Alex hates you for the rest of her life," Death said to him. Death placed her hands on his pistol evaporating it away. "Be my guide and the only one I will take is you. I could have taken you the other night. I'm giving you time to get your affairs in order. It's your reward for your heroism in Hell. Not everyone is given this gift. Very few that are have it so...painlessly."
"Mr. Danvers, will Miss Olsen be joining us for dinner?" Alfred interrupted.
"Yes, thank you," Death answered for him.
Alfred then left the room leaving them alone. "Alright, we'll play this game of yours," Jeremiah relented.
"Lead the way," Death gestured.
Jeremiah came back to the dinner table with Death. "Hey, Kelly," Kara said brightly.
"Sorry I had to sneak off for so long. I just had to have a heart-to-heart with Kelly, here," Jeremiah said vaguely.
"I hope he wasn't too tough," Kara said, knowing the tension between them.
"Not at all," Death replied and sat down at the table.
Alfred placed silverware and a plate in front of her. Death eyed Alfred impressed with his life story and inability to die. "So, you two good now?" Mon asked, hoping to create an argument at the dinner table.
"We have an arrangement now," Death said vaguely.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," Alex said walking in. She gave Death a kiss on the cheek in front of Jeremiah to make him uncomfortable and then went to her chair. "I didn't think you were coming by, tonight," she said to Death.
"Things changed," Death replied.
"So, what's the topic of discussion?" Alex asked.
"Jeremiah and Kelly have an arrangement now," Mon said helpfully.
"Oh, really? I wonder if it has something to do with me," Alex said suspiciously.
"I will be living here at Wayne Manor," Death informed her.
"What for? It's out of the way from your practice. Isn't this something you could have brought up to me this morning?" Alex asked confused.
"Cut it out, Alex," Jeremiah scolded. "We have to talk," Jeremiah ordered Death. "Kelly, let's go."
"Yes," Death allowed getting up.
Jeremiah and Death walked away from the dining room into a hallway away from the others. "Was it you that met my daughter this morning?" he questioned in his head so Kara couldn't overhear.
"I didn't meet her. The body I took met her," Death said in his head.
"What happened to Kelly?" Jeremiah asked slightly concerned.
"I needed a body," Death said nonchalantly and then flashed Kelly's severe mortal injuries to him in a split second.
"So, what happens to her after you've taken me?" Jeremiah asked.
"Well, that depends entirely on you, Jeremiah. You have the opportunity to keep Kelly dead and away from your daughter. Or, you can ask me to bring her back to life when I leave with you," Death said.
"Then I want...," Jeremiah began.
"Not now, Jeremiah. Wait until the end," Death smiled. "You should get some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow."
Later that night, Death walked in on Alex swimming in the indoor pool. Upon noticing her, Alex got out of the pool in a black one-piece swimsuit. "You should have told me you had an arrangement with my father," Alex scolded.
"I'm sorry," Death said with false sincerity. Death handed her a towel to dry off with.
"So, what's this deal you have with my father?" Alex asked suspiciously. "You now on his side? You acting cold towards me to be in my father's good graces?"
"That is not my intention," Death denied.
"What is your intention, Kelly?" Alex asked impatiently. "I thought we were a united front this morning but ten hours later, I feel like a fool. I just don't get it, you, in this house, with my father. It's pissing me off and I don't know how to properly express myself, right now."
"I would like it...if we were friends," Death invited.
"Just friends? After everything we've been through, you just want to be friends?" Alex asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Death said nonchalantly.
"I'm going home," Alex said angry and distraught.
"I'm sorry if I offended you. I'm just so busy doing what is...what I do and I sometimes miss social cues," Death admitted.
"Kelly, you're a God damn shrink. You can't give me that bullshit excuse," Alex said as she stormed out of the room.
Metropolis General
The next morning at Metropolis General, Alex was busy with patients when she spotted Death walking around aimlessly down the halls. "What are you doing here?" Alex asked confused. "Are you ill?"
"No," Death smirked.
"Then, why are you here?" Alex asked.
"I'm here to see you," Death replied.
"I don't have time to see you, right now. I'm about to start rounds," Alex said.
"I'll watch," Death cut her off.
"That's impossible. I'm a doctor," Alex told her.
"And I'll be a visitor," Death said simply.
"Okay, fuck it," Alex relented.
"Doctor, my mom needs help," a young black woman said to Alex.
"I'll deal with her in a moment," Alex said frustrated.
"My mom is sicker than her," the woman said assertively.
The old woman, Amelia, stared at Death. "I'm going to die," she realized.
"Mama, stop being a drama queen," the granddaughter rebuked her.
"Everything...is going to be...just fine," Death smiled sadistically at her.
"Don't leave me with this bitch," Amelia said to Alex.
"I have to get you registered first. I'll be right back," Alex assured her, taking the granddaughter with her.
Death and Amelia were now alone. "Evil spirit," Amelia said of Death.
"I'm not evil. What I do is sanctioned," Death told her.
"You think you can take me?" Amelia challenged. "You just a bus driver."
"I'm a little more than that. I'm the Angel of Death. I've killed a shit-ton of men, women, and children to achieve this title. I deserve some respect," Death said offended.
"You on holiday or something?" she asked.
"Something like that," Death replied.
"So, what happens to the universe while you're gone?" she asked scoldingly.
"I can do many things at once. I'm awesome like that," Death explained.
"My pain is real bad, real bad, but not as bad as having to hear your voice," Amelia insulted.
"I'll make sure to kill off the man that is in charge of your pain meds," Death shot back.
"You can't make it go away. You're not powerful enough," Amelia said to her.
"You trying to goad me into taking your pain away? You can go fuck yourself...sister," Death told her off.
"You got rules you have to follow. You couldn't kill me even if you wanted to. You don't have free will like us," Amelia pointed out.
"And you've done marvelous things with your so-called free will," Death rolled her eyes.
Alex and the granddaughter came back ready to take Amelia away. "Soon," Death taunted Amelia.
Amelia gave Death the middle finger as she was rolled away. "You sure know how to talk to people," Alex said admiringly to Death.
"Perhaps me being here is not...really appropriate," Death said dryly.
"No, I'm glad you came," Alex said appreciatively. "But I have to go."
Wayne Manor
After killing off a few patients personally, Death went to meet with Jeremiah at Wayne Manor in the study. As Jeremiah looked out the window deep in thought, Death had herself a lamb sandwich. "Good?" Jeremiah asked her.
"Yes, I've always had a thing for lamb," Death said referring to ancient sacrifices.
"Glad you like it. My wife turned me on cold lamb sandwiches. Eliza...was my wife. Not as chewy as roast beef, not as boring as chicken. She knew stuff like that. Everything reminds me of her. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her. One day she was fine and the next she was gone. So, what are you going to do? My faith tells me that she's in a better place and that I will meet her soon enough. But my heart still aches for her," Jeremiah said.
"I guess you've heard this all a trillion times before, huh?" Jeremiah asked Death.
"More," Death replied coldly.
"Then, why don't you stop me?" Jeremiah asked.
"You're one of the very few in the universe that knows the afterlife is real with certainty. It's interesting hearing your perspective," Death allowed. "What was it like when you first met?"
"We met at this science conference. She was the real genius. I was just an agent pretending to be a scientist. And...I had to BS my backstory and what I knew about particle physics and whatnot. I think she knew then that I wasn't who I said I was. She could see through me so easily, but she never asked what I really did for a living. So, we just played pretend for over fifteen years," Jeremiah smiled at the memory.
"If you're so certain you'll see her again, why are you so sad?" Death asked.
"Well, in the next life, all of my sins and mistakes will be open to her. There's a lot of things I've done that I'm frankly ashamed of, a lot of fucked-up things," Jeremiah said. "But I'm also afraid she won't be the same person I knew and loved."
"She'll be perfect," Death said confused.
"Exactly. Who I knew and loved wasn't perfect, but I loved her all the same. In fact, some of her imperfections made her endearing. Marriage was an adventure to make mistakes and work to fix them and that isn't going to be how it is in the next life. We won't even be married, just one in fellowship with everyone else. Our marriage will be just a distant memory, a dream," Jeremiah said thoughtfully.
"I've never had someone tell me they feared heaven before," Death admitted.
"Well, how would you feel if everyone you knew and loved was just a stranger to you? That free will didn't exist and everything I ever did on Earth would become meaningless in the scheme of things?" Jeremiah snapped at her as he lost his temper.
"Easy there, you'll give yourself a heart attack and ruin my vacation," Death warned.
That night, Jeremiah, Kara, Mon, Alex, and Death came together for dinner. At the start, Jeremiah stood up. "I want to thank you all for coming. My family, Kara, Mon, Alex, and...other members. So glad we can get together. I mean, I know you all have busy lives."
Alex gave him a dirty look for not naming Kelly. "Yeah, so I remember when you were teenage girls and now you're all grown up in a blink of an eye...I had some words prepared but I've forgotten them," Jeremiah continued.
Kara gave him a mock clap. "There's just so much I wanted to say...," Jeremiah struggled to say without telling them about his impending death.
"It's okay. You can sit down," Kara allowed.
"Yeah, I better sit down," Jeremiah said defeated, and then got back up. "Why don't we have dinner tomorrow night?"
"Again?" Kara wondered.
"You haven't had enough of us, yet?" Alex asked.
"No," Jeremiah said giving Alex and then Kara a fatherly kiss.
"We'll be here," Kara said wiping away tears.
"You bet we will," Mon seconded realizing what was up.
"Kelly," Jeremiah toasted her as if asking for her permission for another day. Death rose her glass to confirm he would live another day.
The next evening, Jeremiah watched Death and Alex as they seemed to be giving each other flirting glances. Alfred brought in several desserts for everyone. "I don't like cake," Jeremiah remarked.
"Well, too bad, the party is going to have a really tall one," Kara told him.
"Ah, the Goddamn party," Jeremiah muttered.
"The Goddamn party, huh? What the fuck did I just hear?" Kara asked outraged.
"I'm sorry," Jeremiah sighed as Kara started getting hysterical.
Alex rolled her eyes as Kara was about to explode. "How about I take the knife," Mon said taking the knife away from her to cut her a piece of cake for her. "This is terrific," Mon said as he had a piece of cake. "Is that vodka? You should have some of this," Mon said to Jeremiah.
"I'm sorry. You know I'm no good at this," Jeremiah tried to excuse himself. "Just choose whatever cake you like."
"I knew you were going to say that," Kara snapped at him. "I mean, it's like you don't care. Why am I even doing this? I should have my head examined again. I'm trying to throw the party of the century in two days and you don't give a shit!" Kara freaked out.
"He does give a shit," Mon assured her.
"No, he doesn't," Kara said as she began to cry.
"He does give a shit, right, Jay?" Mon asked rhetorically.
"Come on," Jeremiah offered his hand to her. "Smile, that's an order."
Kara straightened up and consoled herself. "So, which one? I'm fucking serious."
"This one," Jeremiah picked a random cake.
"Kelly, would you like a piece?" Kara offered.
"I'd love to," Death smiled.
The next morning, Death hung out in the indoor pool area. She stared at the water lost in thought as she recalled how many mortals she had drowned. Alex came in and noticed her. "So, you're here. Where is my dad?" she asked.
"Taking a nap," Death replied.
"Oh, well, he must be tired from being disappointed with me," Alex said bitterly.
"Yes, he's tired," Death confirmed. "But that's an opportunity for us."
Alex eyed Death with wonder and then kissed her. "I locked the door behind me," she said to Death.
"I know," Death smiled back.
Alex slowly peeled off Death's suit jacket off her shoulders and down on the floor. She then unbuttoned Death's dress shirt revealing her breasts underneath. Death dropped the shirt off her arms onto the floor as Alex giggled like a nervous schoolgirl. Death went behind Alex's back and lowered her black dress to the floor. Alex took the initiative to take off her bra and now the two of them were facing each other. Alex kissed Death as she unbuttoned her suit pants dropping them to the floor. They kissed and caressed each other until Alex finally laid down on the couch taking the more feminine role.
"I want to be taken and made your woman... as we talked about," Alex said as she became fully undressed.
"Alright," Death agreed, becoming completely naked herself.
Death got on top of Alex and the two rubbed together romantically. At this moment, it wasn't about getting off quickly. They had all the time in the world to just be with each other enjoy each other's bodies. They kissed and caressed each other on the couch until they both reached fulfillment. "I love making love to you," Alex said to her. "This time, it was like making love for the first time. Do you like making love to me?"
"Yes," Death said honestly.
"I think I understand what my father meant by excitement, thrill, and passion," Alex said lovingly.
"With me, you'll have that and more," Death promised.
Jeremiah watched as Death gave Alex a kiss goodbye. He waited for Alex to leave the room and confronted Death on the matter. "Hello, Jeremiah, did you have a nice nap?" Death asked mockingly.
"What's going on? I saw you kiss Alex," Jeremiah accused.
"I saw you see me," Death said dismissively.
"You're at the wrong place, the wrong time, and with the wrong woman," Jeremiah told her.
"I'll be the judge of that," Death said coldly.
"I'm her father," Jeremiah pointed to himself.
"With all due respect, I am not asking your permission," Death replied.
"You goddamn well should! Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge," Jeremiah said quoting Hebrews.
"God shall judge," Death said dismissively.
"That's right," Jeremiah said forcefully.
"Careful, Jeremiah. Are you going to be like Levi and Simeon and slaughter me for violating your daughter?" Death asked referencing Genesis.
"No," Jeremiah said finally.
"I don't like your tone or your Biblical references," Death said annoyed with him.
"And I don't give a shit," Jeremiah told her off.
"Be careful who you're talking to," Death reminded him.
"Death or not...you're still just a bitch," Jeremiah taunted.
"I'll say it again, be careful," Death warned.
The next day, Alex entered Jeremiah's study as he was busy writing his last letters to people across the world. "Where is Kelly?" she asked expecting her to be in the house.
"Kelly's not around," Jeremiah said dismissively.
"Do you know where she is? She's not answering her cell," Alex asked hopefully.
"I don't know," Jeremiah shut her down. "Why are you looking for her?"
"Love, passion, obsession, all the things you taught me to wait for. They've arrived," she said to him.
"This is crazy," Jeremiah said standing up.
"Why? Because she's a woman?" Alex asked offended. "If she is so bad, why do you have her around you all the time."
"Because as long as she is with me, she's not with you," Jeremiah said coldly.
"Why isn't she good enough for me?" Alex asked angrily. "Why is this any different than how you were with mom?"
"With Kelly, you're on very dangerous ground," Jeremiah told her.
"I love her," Alex insisted.
"I don't care if you love her! I'm telling you! Kelly is no good for you!" Jeremiah said raising his voice.
"Of course not, Dad," Alex said passive-aggressively. "She was only a medic on the battlefield, a doctor, and a psychiatrist to those in need."
"I don't give a damn how skilled or powerful she is. You can do whatever the hell you want after I'm gone. But right now, you cannot," Jeremiah told her.
"So, this is all about your ego, your salvation. You just want to look high and mighty to God and to hell with me after you're gone. How long will I have to wait for you to die?" Alex raged.
"I have contingency plans to keep you two apart after I am gone," Jeremiah threatened, referring to Kara.
"And what about free will?" Alex asked.
"You can resist...but never succeed," Jeremiah replied.
"Fuck you. You weren't there when I came out, you weren't there when I was trying to figure out my feelings, and you weren't there for me when I broke up with Maggie. You had Kara sabotaging me at every turn," Alex accused.
"I don't deny it," Jeremiah said dismissively.
"So, this is a father's love?" Alex asked rhetorically.
"Yes, a father's love to keep you from death and hell!" Jeremiah said becoming upset with her.
"I don't even think I believe in that nonsense," Alex shot back.
Jeremiah took a few steps back as his body and mind ached from the tortures he saw and endured in hell. "Don't say that," he said softly and then collapsed to a knee as his heart almost gave out.
"Dad!" Alex said alarmed. She went over to him and opened a pill bottle and got him a glass of water.
"I'll be fine. It's not my time yet," he said as he took the pills and drank the glass.
Alex eyed Jeremiah with fear as she realized he could have died then and there during a heated argument. She assisted him back in his chair and noticed letters of goodbye to all of his comrades across the world that he had fought with. "I'm sorry," Alex said to him.
"I'm sorry, too. Alex, there's more to this than you think. I can't say more," Jeremiah said to her.
Metropolis General
Death came over to the hospital and visited the old Jamaican woman with flowers. "Well...God is good," Amelia said to Death.
"All the time," Death smirked as she sat down next to her hospital bed. "You want to get lunch after this...after your death, that is."
"Your welcome to dine with me anytime...after I kick your ass," Amelia told her off.
"Don't be feisty, sister," Death scolded.
"You ain't my sister," Amelia denied."You know I love all that is good and holy in this world but, for you, I'll slap you in the face...with my prayers."
"I know you will," Death smiled condescendingly.
"How was your weekend?" Amelia asked Death.
"Oh, just visiting your granddaughter," Death mocked.
"You leave my granddaughter alone or I'll punch you in the ukku...with my prayers," Amelia threatened.
"I'm only here for your old ass," Death assured her.
"Promise me you won't take any of my family until they're in the warm embrace of God's grace," Amelia demanded.
"I can't promise that," Death scoffed.
"You take any of my family too soon, I will sneak up on you beyond the grave and sit on your face when you least expect it," Amelia threatened.
"I'm shaking," Death mocked.
"If threats don't scare you, I'll seduce you instead," she said.
"Say what?" Death thought she misheard.
"Yeah, I'll take this gown off my shoulders and flash you something fierce that you will never forget," Amelia said to her.
"Please...don't," Death covered her eyes. "Actually, I'm here to get advice on love."
"Anyone that loves you is dumb-as-fuck," Amelia told her.
"That hurts my feelings," Death shook her head. "I brought you flowers and all I get is you talking shit."
"I got a tumor the size of a grapefruit slowly poisoning me keeping me in this bed all day and all night, but I still don't have time for you," Amelia insulted.
"Take my hand and the pain goes away," Death offered her hand.
"You'll have to take me by force, Death," Amelia said defiantly.
Death smiled amusedly and took out a string of thread and a pair of scissors from her coat pocket. She teased Amelia by placing the scissor blades up against the string and then backing off. "I'm not afraid," Amelia said to her.
Death then cut the string ending Amelia's life. She closed her eyes and held a peaceful expression on her face as she passed. Death then walked out of the room looking for someone else in need of her.
Wayne Manor
That night, Jeremiah rested comfortably in the study. Death walked in to make a final decision. "Yes?" Jeremiah asked her.
"My time with you has served its purpose," Death announced.
"Is it time to go?" Jeremiah asked bored. "I'm ready."
"You are?" Death wondered.
"Yeah," Jeremiah confirmed.
"Tomorrow night then...after the party," Death said as she left the room. The man had no fear towards her. She would have to raise the stakes a little to truly test him.
The next morning, Mon poured himself two glasses of wine, red and white from a booth. He was about to drink them both when Death came up to him. "Hey, red or white?" he offered.
"No thank you," Death declined.
"Suit yourself," Mon said as he drank the red glass.
"Mon, I'm a little confused," Death admitted.
"About?" Mon asked slightly curious.
"Love," Death replied.
"I'm the last person to talk to about this. I got problems of my own," Mon said drinking his glass down.
"You love Kara, don't you?" Death asked.
"Sure, probably, maybe," Mon nodded.
"How did you two meet?" Death asked.
"I was this third-rate warrior and she was this happy invincible girl that destroyed my pride and purpose in my life...for a very long time," Mon recalled. "For some reason, she took me in and treated me like a pet."
"But Kara does love you?" Death asked.
"Yeah, probably, maybe," Mon said.
"How do you know?" Death asked.
"Because she knows the worst things about me, and it's okay. She knows I've committed planetary genocide, massacres of unparalleled savagery, assassinations, and even slaughtered some of her own people. You see, I know her secrets and she knows mine. I mean really dark fucked-up secrets. But when we shared them with each other, we felt free. At that point, we were free to love each other completely, totally, no fear," Mon said.
There was an awkward silence between them. "Do you like me, Kelly?" Mon asked already working on this fourth glass.
"Oh, yes, Mon. You're one of my favorites," Death smiled at him.
Meanwhile, Kara was still busy with the decorations ordering Brainiac 5 units around. "So, what do you think?" Kara asked Jeremiah as he toured around.
"It's growing on me," he lied. "You really are amazing. But why are you doing this, Kara?" he asked as he sat down.
"I do it because I love you," Kara said simply. "After all, you've been a wonderful father to me."
"Yeah, well, I was only with you for a year before taking off and I...risked having us both in hell to get Alex back," Jeremiah said.
Kara gave him an odd look not remembering that adventure. "Alex is your firstborn daughter that you raised from the time she was born. She's your flesh and blood. She's always been your favorite and it's how it should be, you know. I know that you love me. I couldn't ask for more. I felt loved and that's all that matters," Kara said sincerely.
"Oh, Kara," Jeremiah said as he hugged her. "I really feel I have everything I've ever wanted for my birthday."
"Oh, wait a minute," Kara objected as she pulled away. "There's more to come. This is going to be so cool."
"I know it will," Jeremiah nodded. "Thank you."
That night, the party began with all the guests arriving, the band playing, and everything as it should be. Alex was in a purple dress. She spotted Kelly in a black dress coming towards her. "Our time together has come to an end," Death said bluntly.
"I'm in love with a woman but I don't know who she is, right now," Alex said sadly.
"I'm leaving tonight," Death told her.
"So, it gets worse," Alex said angry and upset.
"I don't want to leave," Death said sincerely.
"Then don't. I want to be with you, Kelly," Alex said to her. "Fuck my father. This is about us, the future, not the past."
"I'll talk with him," Death relented.
Death entered the study room and found Jeremiah at his desk being anti-social. "How are you doing, Jeremiah?" she asked.
"Why the hell do you care?" Jeremiah shot back.
"Just asking," Death smirked.
"You want to know? I'm staring down the valley of death galloping towards it and my daughter is in love with a woman and death," Jeremiah said peeved.
"I'm in love with your daughter, and I'm going to take her with me, tonight," Death revealed.
"What?" Jeremiah asked standing up.
"You heard me," Death said smugly.
"You're not taking Alex anywhere. We had a deal," Jeremiah told her off.
"I'm altering the deal. Pray, I don't alter it any further," Death threatened.
"Alex has a wonderful life ahead of her. You're going to deprive her of it after I went down into hell to rescue her," Jeremiah said angrily.
"I don't care. She's mine," Death replied.
"How perfect for you...to take whatever you want because it pleases you. This is an aimless infatuation you feel like indulging. It's missing everything that matters: trust, responsibility, making difficult life choices, and not hurting the ones you love," Jeremiah said.
"I see it differently. This mortal life is simply a trial run, a test filled with suffering, grief, and futility. None of this has any meaning," Death said, pointing out the window. "It's merely a training ground to determine whether souls are worthy of a much higher dimension. What I do, whether it be annihilation or sending one to their next life, is a gift. The purpose of life is to end," Death said.
"And what about grace? You take her now, you deprive her of all the wondrous deeds and treasure she will build up for her next existence," Jeremiah argued.
"Or preventing her from committing mortal sins that will bring her damnation again," Death countered.
"That's not up to you to decide. While she still lives, she has free will. You made a deal with me before God, and I expect you to honor it. You go back on your word, God will send you to hell where you belong," Jeremiah said forcefully.
Death merely smiled at him. "Nah, more like chewed out. I've been chewed out before," she rolled her eyes dismissively.
"You're stealing my daughter and I'm not going to let you," Jeremiah told her.
"I don't like your tone," Death glared at him.
"And I don't give a damn. I will not let you," Jeremiah said.
"Are you threatening me?" Death asked amused.
"I certainly hope so. Yeah. I loved Alex since the day she was born, and I love her now, and every moment in between. You're not worthy of her and I'm not just saying that because you're a woman," Jeremiah said.
"Enough!" Death shouted. "You don't seem to understand the power dynamic at play here. I want Alex and I will have her and that's the way it's going to be and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"Why did you even tell me this? You're the big shot, the biggest shot of them all. You don't have to ask for my permission. You here to gloat? Or maybe you're a little uncertain and in need of assurance. You see, I know your types well. As powerful as you are, you're all fucked up in the head. With great power comes great confusion, psychosis, and the inability to relate to real people. I don't know what you're going to do but this small victory of yours isn't going to give you peace," Jeremiah told her as she was about to leave the room.
Death said nothing to that. "I'll tell her myself and despite all the anger and resentment she has for me, she will believe me. Then, the only way you'll have her is through force," Jeremiah told her.
"If you do that, I'll stop your heart in front of all these people and in front of your daughter," Death threatened.
"I know," Jeremiah said fearlessly.
Death hesitated but then exited the room.
Death came back to the party with Alex socializing with her friends. Upon noticing her, Alex excused herself. She walked over to Death feeling optimistic and hopeful. "There's something about you standing in the middle of a crowd. I could make love to you right now," Alex said softly.
Death took Alex's hand and gave it an affectionate kiss. "There's something I want to tell you," she said vaguely.
"That you told my father to go to hell? That, we can be together, get married, and have a family?" Alex asked hopefully.
Death simply stared at her. "There will be another time for courtship and love. Now, you should be with your father."
"No, fuck him. He wasn't there for me. He left me alone. And when he came back, he didn't respect who I was," Alex said tearfully.
Death embraced her in a hug. "It's not that simple."
"Tell me that you love me. Tell me that you love me now," Alex said pleadingly.
"I love you now. I love you always. Alex, thank you for loving me," Death said and then withdrew from her. Alex gave her a dumbfounded look as Death walked off. Death went back to the study to find Jeremiah sitting at his desk.
"Well?" Jeremiah asked.
"It will be just us," Death assured him.
"Thank you," Jeremiah said appreciatively.
"We better get started," Death said sadly.
Jeremiah exited the mansion to find everyone on their feet singing the birthday song to him. As he went down the stairs to meet with them, Kara was at his side. He went over to the tall birthday cake and blew out the candle on top. "Speech, speech, speech," the crowd chanted.
"I thought I was going to sneak away tonight," Jeremiah joked. "What a glorious night. Every face I see is a memory. It may not be a perfect memory. Sometimes, we have had our ups and downs. But we're all together and you're mine for a night. And I'm going to break a fundamental rule and tell you my wish: That you all have a life as lucky as mine. Now, after fifteen years of captivity, brainwashing, and hell that may seem odd to you. But there was more to my life than that tale. There was my lovely wife, rest in peace, and my two wonderful daughters. When I wake up in the morning, I can truthfully say to God, 'I don't want anything more.'"
The crowd applauded and the music started again. Jeremiah shook hands with a number of elites and then came over to Kara and Mon. He gave them both final hugs of goodbye. He kissed Kara on the cheek. "Thank you," he said softly.
Jeremiah then went over to Alex standing by herself. "What a night," Alex said impressed with Kara's work.
"I'm having a hell of a time," Jeremiah said.
"You were right about Kelly. Are you relieved?" she asked sadly.
"When this night is over and I'm gone, I want you to make your own decisions. I want you to know how much I love you and that you have given meaning to my life I had no right to have," Jeremiah said.
"Dad," Alex shook her head.
"No, I want you to promise me something. I don't want you to ever worry about me. I'm going to be okay and everything is going to be alright and I have no regrets. I want you to feel the same way," Jeremiah said to her.
"I love you, daddy," Alex said embracing him.
"No regrets," Jeremiah reminded her.
No regrets," Alex repeated.
"Would you like to dance with me, Alex?" Jeremiah asked.
"Yeah," Alex nodded tearfully.
As Death watched, Jeremiah danced with Alex stalling out the evening for as long as he could. The fireworks then started giving Jeremiah a jump. "Should we go down and watch them?" Alex asked.
"You go on ahead, Alex. I'm just going to catch my breath," Jeremiah excused himself.
Alex gave him one last hug and then went down to see the fireworks with her friends. As the fireworks exploded in the air, Jeremiah calmly walked towards Kelly away from the party and out of view. "Happy Birthday, Jeremiah," Death said to him.
"Thank you," Jeremiah said sincerely. "So, what happens to Alex now?"
"I wouldn't worry about it. These things have a way of working themselves out," Death assured him. "I am grateful for you, the time you have given me, and your family. You passed the final test of your life."
"What test?" Jeremiah asked.
"I wanted to know if you would be willing to give up everything to keep your daughter from me, and you passed with flying colors," Death complimented.
"Don't jerk me off too hard. You'll ruin my autopsy," Jeremiah replied back.
Death smiled amused. "For you...I'm taking you body and soul. Shall we?" she gestured away from the party.
At that last moment, Alex turned to see Jeremiah and Death walking away from the party. Ignoring the fireworks, she made her way over to them. Jeremiah turned to Death one last time. "Should I be afraid?" he asked a little anxiously.
"Not a man like you," Death assured him.
Jeremiah smiled at that and walked with Death out of sight of the party-goers. From Alex's perspective, Jeremiah and Death went down a hill out of view, the last time she would ever see her father alive. Jeremiah then became dust and blew away in the wind leaving no body behind. A bewildered Kelly then went back up the hill and met with Alex. She looked at the party amazed.
"Where did you go?" Alex asked Kelly.
"I don't know," Kelly said confused. "It's kind of blurry and hazy but...I don't know if I'll ever figure it out. But now I'm back."
"That's it?" Alex asked incredulously.
"Well, I don't know what else to say. One moment I'm in a coffee shop and now I'm here at this party. You look beautiful," Kelly said.
Alex stared at Kelly wondering what was really going on. "Hey, you alright?" Kelly asked concernedly.
"I think there's more we need to know about each other," Alex said realizing what had happened.
"We got time," Kelly assured her. "In fact, I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know you."
"I do, too," Alex said tearfully.
They then walked down back towards the party as the fireworks reached a climax.
Author's Notes: I have mixed feelings about this movie, MJB. I cut the boardroom drama because it doesn't make sense for Jeremiah and I hate it. I felt Parish (Anthony Hopkins) should have revealed Death as soon as Death got close to Susan as sacrificing what little time Parish had left anyway would have been better than also risking Susan's life as well. The constant speeches and moralizing were nice but Parish really should have acted sooner. But then the movie would have been over a lot quicker with a less-than-spectacular ending. This movie also has the same issue as WW84 where a guy was kind of raped because he was possessed by another spirit and wasn't in control. Susan also was also just on a rebound with a love that was neither developed nor real, so I didn't care for that either. They wanted to give Death omniscient and omnipotent power at some points but also be a child-like idiot in other points of the story which I thought was jarring, inconsistent, and the writer wanting their cake and eating it, too. The MJB writer was confused as to whether Death should be a hero or villain here. I didn't want any confusion.
What I did love about this movie is the relationship between a father and his daughters and how Parish prepared for death with dignity and grace. It was the kind of death I knew I needed to give Jeremiah and a total inverse of what CW did. I also wanted to show the drama of a father and daughter at odds with each other on a particular issue but able to respect each other in the end. There is that classic misunderstanding between father and daughter that is only revealed when Alex realizes that Kelly had been possessed by something dark and evil for the last couple of days. I wanted to show that even though Jeremiah and Kara have better chemistry, Jeremiah's daughter who he raised from birth and cherished most was Alex. That his leaving for the DEO was for Alex's benefit rather than Kara's. Death in Marvel and DC is portrayed by a woman and I wanted her to be competent in human affairs. Jeremiah invoking God to keep Death in check was something I appreciated from Anthony Hopkins in Dracula/Rite and it would have been interesting to have seen it here. It wasn't Death's aimlessness or lack of emotional competence but this invocation that kept Death at bay.
I made Jeremiah a right-wing evangelical for comedic purposes, to increase the diversity of thought in the cast, and create drama. For some, Jeremiah wasn't tough enough on Alex. For others, he was an asshole that should have been more accepting. I appreciate both lines of thought. I'm not in the business of creating perfect characters with perfect endings. I didn't have Jeremiah change his views and I didn't turn Alex straight. I simply had them say their piece and be themselves because IRL you rarely do get that victory. CW Maggie's dad simply bailed for no specific reason whereas my Jeremiah stuck around despite the disagreement for specific reasons. I think there can be a middle ground between excommunication and total acceptance and that reality or ideal was Jeremiah's character.