Chapter 14 – Surprises
"Come on, lovebirds, breakfast is almost ready." I've heard Kory's voice from outside as she knocked on the door.
It took me a moment to realise where I am and what happened, but as I looked into Dick's sleepy chestnut eyes everything made sense.
"How do they know?" I asked him quietly, being horrified. "Did they hear...?"
"Angel, I think half-Chicago heard" He grinned smugly as I nudged him playfully.
"Come on, it wasn't that bad" I murmured laying down on his chest, huffing.
"Who said it was? I like my girl loud" He ensured me making me smile.
"And what's your plan?" I asked, changing the subject. "I mean beside waiting for me, counting every minute?" I teased supporting myself on my elbow to look at him.
"Every second" He said placing a small kiss on my lips. "Anyway, I think I'll visit Donna. She might help with... everything going on" He said not wanting to get into the details, but I understood him perfectly. Permanently giving up Robin is a huge impact on his life. He had to figure out a lot of things. And he was right even though it hurt to admit. Wonder girl might have been who he needed.
"I'm sorry, Dick. I wish I could help you" I mumbled wistfully as he squeezed my hand to get my attention.
"It's not your job to fix me" He said as I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Is he shutting me out again? "But I'd love you to stand next to me while I do it" He added caressing my cheek with a warm smile.
"I'd love that too" I snuggled up to him joyfully. I looked into the future with full of hope. I believed in second chances. This time around things just made more sense. Honestly, timing has a lot to do with everything. Maybe we weren't ready for each other yet. Or maybe we just needed to fall apart to realise how much we need to fall back together. I wasn't sure, but it didn't even matter. All I knew was that we could actually make it work.
"Where are you going?" Dick asked dissatisfied as I slipped out of his arms.
"Taking a shower" I said picking up my clothes. "Care to join?" I asked raising my brow since he hasn't moved. Seemed like that was all I had to say as he jumped out of bed to accompany me while I chuckled wholeheartedly at his enthusiasm. He grabbed me from behind swooping me in his arms as I yelped in surprise.
"You know I can walk, right?" I questioned examining his lineaments as he carried me to the bathroom.
"Yeah, but there's no fun in that" He explained shrugging as I cuddled in the crook of his neck, hiding my smile. I could never get tired of being in his arms.
DDD
It wasn't the fastest shower I ever took but sure was the most satisfying one.
My stomach rumbled loudly as we sat down at the table in the kitchen with the others. I was famished. I could've eaten a whole horse.
"My compliments to the chef" I beckoned to Rach, who made tons pancakes. She smiled at me as they exchanged a knowing glance with Gar.
After a night like that I would be this hungry too. Kory thought.
Ew, it's like catching your parents in action. Gar got lost in thought as I coughed, choking on a bite. This group was truly a high-school class...
-"Rachel has been explaining your situation to me" Angela started excited. "I know this place is on a loan" She said looking at Dick.
"Unofficially. The owner hasn't exactly gave me permission to stay here, but..." Dick nodded.
"I might have another option" She interrupted looking over each of us. "I have a house. In Ohio. It's been in our family for decades." She said glancing at Rachel. "I hoped that we could move there. All of you are welcomed, I have more than enough room. It's the least I can do" She ensured us waiting for our response anticipated.
"This could be our secret base. It's so cool, isn't it?" Gar asked excited chuckling with Rachel.
"Isn't it, Rory?" She asked sensing my trouble. Yeah, it would've been amazing, but I had to leave. And so did Dick. "Dick?" She turned to him now desperately, as we sighed in union. This would be a difficult conversation.
DDD
Yet she took it rather well. Why, let's just say it could've been worse. We promised to visit her as soon as we finished with our things to do and to keep in touch meanwhile.
"So what, this is the end of the team?" Gar asked sadly.
"Technically we were never a team..." Dick started as I nudged him.
"We were a team" I corrected him. "And we'll see you again soon" I promised. "Rachel" I turned to her but she avoided my gaze at all cost.
"She'll be alright" Kory ensured as with a smile as I nodded with a heavy heart then we parted.
Dick walked me to the car. It was our time to say goodbye too and I sensed his anxiousness building up.
"I'm not going to change my mind" I reached for his hand entwining our fingers tight. I knew he was nervous because of my meeting with Hank, but I had to clear things up. He was and always will be an important man in my life, nothing could change that. And it was an already difficult enough situation.
"I just can't believe how lucky I am for you giving me another chance" He confessed. "I don't think I deserve you."
"Well then fortunately it's not up to you to decide." I sent him a smile trying to cheer him up.
"I prove you I'm worthy" He promised me seriously.
"You already did, Dick" I raised on my tiptoe to give him a farewell kiss as he locked his arms around me eagerly.
"I love you, Angel" He murmured against my lips.
"I love you too, Jigsaw" I answered smirking as he chuckled.
"This again?" He asked shaking his head. I gave him the nickname years ago, because he was always hard to figure out and I had to put the pieces together like a puzzle.
"Still" I corrected him.
"Alright" He accepted my decision. "Drive safe" He noted as I get in the car.
"Same" I sent him one last smile before driving off.
DDD
I stopped at a gas station somewhere half-way home to rest a bit and move my legs. I filled up the tank, grabbed some snack and drink then I was off to the road again.
I put AC/DC on and I turned the volume up so loud that I was sure it was audible from pretty far, but I had to. Otherwise my mind wandered to dark places such as how I betrayed Hank, how I broke my promises and how he didn't deserved this. And even though he was the one who cut me off and sent me packing I still felt guilty.
"I'm on a highway to hell" Brian Johnson's raspy voice filled the space. "Oh the highway to hell"
"You have no idea, pal" I murmured switching the gear, speeding up as I looked into the review mirror to check if I can pass safely.
"Help!"
I almost made the car flip as Rachel's face suddenly appeared in the glass.
"Rory, please, help!" She begged one more time before she was gone.
I pulled over to get a hold myself. I grabbed my phone to call Rach but it went off immediately.
It was Dick.
"Where are you?" He asked his voice full of concern. Something was wrong obviously.
"Heading to Ohio" I decided quickly. I had no idea what's going on, but I had a hunch it's better if I check it out. "I think Rachel is in trouble"
"She might be." He agreed. "Kory wants to kill her."
"What?"
"Donna translated the papers we found at Kory's storage" He explained quickly. "Meet me in Killdear, we will be there soon too"
"Copy."
DDD
I drove the car as fast as it was physically possible while I prayed not to meet any cops.
I managed to get there just in time. Kory was choking the life out of Rach with glowing palms.
"Shit" I swore pushing Kory out of her balance. She released Rachel and turned to me gripping my neck hard. "Kory, it's me. Rory" I pressed trying to breath. She wasn't herself. Her eyes radiated in emerald ready to burn me. "Recognise me already" I tried desperately as the door opened again. Kory turned to the noise then threw me at the direction, redirecting her attention to Rachel.
I landed on Dick managing to knock him down.
"Perfect timing" I coughed getting up while Donna saved the day lassoing Kory then delivering a punch which was enough to make her unconscious.
"You all right?" Dick asked worried, checking my neck. There will be a few nice bruises, but otherwise it was okay.
"Yeah." I nodded gratefully.
"What happened?" Dick asked now the others, still staying close to me.
"She tried to kill my daughter." Angela answered with understandable resentment.
"Rachel?"
"I was trying to help Kory get her memory back. I must have done something wrong." Rachel added being shaken.
"No. None of this is your fault." Her mother ensured her, squeezing her shoulders.
"The lasso." Gar now noticed Donna's weapon. "You're her, aren't you?" He asked with a knowing smirk.
"I'm an old friend of Dick's." She tried to cut it short, but he was adamant.
"You're Wonder Girl."
"I was." Donna corrected him as Kory groaned starting to wake up.
"What's going on?" She asked confused as she noticed all of us standing around her.
"You tried to kill Rachel." I summed up to her but she frowned, shaking her head.
"What? No, I would never do that."
"I want this woman out of my house." Angela demanded getting sick of this.
"Okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves..." I started calmly, but she was adamant.
"Now, God damn it."
"Rachel, I am so…" Kory said taking a step closer to her, but Rach backed away. "I am so sorry." She finished hurting. "I have to go." She murmured heading to the door.
"Kory, wait. Kory." I run after her desperately. I had no idea what happened to her, but escaping wasn't the solution. "Wait, for god's sake." I cursed trying to keep up with her, but she already got into a car. "Talk to me. What's going on?" I asked.
"I'm starting to remember." She answered simply, starting the engine.
"What? What are you remembering?"
"I don't know." She shook her head genuinely. "I don't know."
"Kory. Hey, Kory! Hey!" I protested as she drove off.
"We have to follow her." Dick noted joining me with Donna on his side. She took a throwing star out of her pocket and threw it, making it stick at the car's tuck, then she opened an app on her phone.
"What? You're not the only one with cool gadgets." She smirked seeing Dick's surprised expression. "I'll drive." She said hopping in the car. Dick glanced at the house frowning and I understood him right away.
"I'll stay" I ensured him. I knew he's worried about Rachel but he also wanted to find out what's up with Kory.
"I'll make it up to you" He whispered, stepping closer, cupping my face.
"You'd better" I teased him stealing a quick kiss as he smirked against my lips.
"That's new" Donna's approval whistle ripped through the air making us part as Dick sent her a firm look.
DDD
Hours were dragging. There was nothing really to do in the house and honestly I was on edge for no apparent reason. This neighbourhood just gave me the creeps anyway. I tried to call Dick to gain some info and to hear his voice, but there was no service. Of course. We were in the middle of nowhere…
"What's wrong?" I asked Rachel as she stepped out of the house too.
"He shouldn't be staying with us." She said quietly and I knew she meant Gar.
"Why? What was he doing?" I questioned confused. I thought they are getting along pretty well. They both needed each other.
"He was trying to make me feel better." She confessed as I couldn't help but chuckled.
"And you don't want to feel better?" I asked softly. "Or are you scared to?" I must've hit the nerve since she shifted uncomfortably. "Look, I know, after all you've been through, after everything that's happened, it's scary to hold on to anyone" I started opening up. "But, you have to hold on to the people you care about. The people you love." I added as she looked at me curiously. Yes, I was talking from experience. I had plenty in the topic… "When things got serious between Dick and I, he freaked out, he thought I'm better off without him so he run. And I let him." I explained hoping it would help her too. "When he came back suddenly, I had no idea how to react, so I pushed him away. I was afraid if I let him in he will bail out on me again. I'm still afraid to be completely honest." I confessed genuinely. "But no matter how frightened I am, I'm going to hold on, because I already know what's like to give up." I summed up. "That's the truth. Don't make the same mistake we did, Rachel." I shook my head. "Because it left us all alone. For far too long." I murmured.
I felt her warm palm wrapping around my hand as she squeezed it. I looked at her and she smiled at me with a slight nod.
"Thank you, Rory" She hugged my waist as I embraced her shoulder. She was a good kid. Now that everything was over, maybe she could really be normal.
I stiffened up abruptly, becoming pale as death as I noticed someone approaching. She was burning in flames yet she walked in a calm and steady pace stealing the distance threateningly.
It was my mom. Her body was ablaze which should've caused terrible pain, yet she just stared at me with cold, piercing eyes as she stopped only a few meters from me. Her gaze penetrated me sending shivers down on my spine.
This was impossible!
"Hey." Rachel distant voice called me, but I was too mesmerised. "Rory" She shook me arm a bit which finally managed to snap me out. "Are you okay?" She asked as I looked at her.
"No, I uh..." I started checking the horrible vision again, but my mother was nowhere. "There's something wrong with this place." I said being shaken to the core.
"What do you mean?" She asked confused.
"I don't know." I said. I didn't want to tell her I'm seeing things. "I just have a bad feeling. Maybe I'm just stressed out." I guessed. Maybe it was really only my conscious. There was a lot going on lately…
"Your nose is bleeding" Rach warned me as I checked. Indeed. There was blood on my fingers.
"I think I just need to rest a bit." I forced a smile wiping my nose with a tissue.
"I'll tell my mom to prepare a room for you" Rachel suggested hesitantly as I nodded agreeing.
This fucking nightmare would never end.
I decided to call Dick again even though I knew it is futile. The phone started to buzz before alerting me the lack of signal. Great, truly great.
I huffed nervously putting my cell away before entering the house. Maybe a good sleep would ease my nerves.
DDD
It was already middle of the night when I woke up. I felt dizzy, out of place and extremely thirsty. I got up heading to the bathroom for a drink but my stomach felt weird. I felt nauseous.
I supported myself on the washbasin for a moment before looking into the mirror. I was only a shadow of myself. My skin was pale and sweaty, my legs were shaking, my arms trembling as I opened the water.
I washed my face to regain some consciousness then I let out a quiet yelp as I saw the water turning to first pink then violent red. I looked into the mirror and got terrified. I was bleeding from everywhere. My nose, my mouth, my eyes… there was blood everywhere. My vision got blurry and the world turned into dark.
DDD
I came back with coughing just like I was drowning for hours.
"Rory" Rach ran to me relieved. "Rory, you're alive" She hugged me tight as I still tried to clear my lungs completely. I looked around baffled. My brain hasn't booted yet. I got more confused as I noticed a man standing next to me.
What the fuck?
He opened his arms for Rachel who hesitated for a moment but then she walked up to him gratefully.
"Thank you, father" She whispered as I sat up abruptly. No. That's can't be happening. No, no, no, this is the strangest dream I've ever had…
I stood up hesitantly finding my way out. I had to reach Dick, no matter what.
I stumbled down to the kitchen. I grabbed a chair to regain my balance, shaking my head in a hope to clear the view. Wasn't working. The world was spinning mercilessly.
"Angel, are you alright?" Dick hurried to me, stepping into the house. He closed me into a hug tightly He was like a mirage in the desert.
"I knew it was only a bad dream" I murmured collapsing in his arms helplessly.