Major edited 12/16/2010 (sorry it was such a mess, not sure what happened...) Chapter 61 up shortly!

Thank you for reading me. Here's the next chapter.

Terry Long was Donna Troy's (Wonder Girl's) human husband in the New Teen Titans run. They married in Issue #50 of the Tales of the New Teen Titans, in the days when the New Teen Titans had two issues monthly. He was '29' but seemed older and taught Greek history at one of the Universities near New York City.

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Double Take

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Chapter 60

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Kori spent the first few days on Paradise Island in quiet contemplation. After a reunion with her friend Donna, there was an unspoken understanding that there would be nothing more said about why Kori was there. Donna knew only what Kori had told her at first: that there had been a traumatic event involving Kori's love life, and that Kori needed time to process it.

Donna knew nothing about Richard. The two women hadn't spoken directly since Christmas, before Kori and Richard were dating. Not that it really mattered: the close friends had the type of relationship where they could always just pick up where things had left off before.

Along with her time alone, Kori enjoyed wonderful fresh and healthy food, as well as plenty of sunshine, rest and exercise. She was allowed all the time needed to reflect, meditate and to pray. Soon Kori was re-centered and refreshed. Thinking clearly, she believed that she had things in a much better perspective.

Kori knew she loved Richard very much. She wanted a future with him. She was sure he was the one.

Her belief was that the best way to ensure that they could have a stable future together, they would need to go back to the beginning and start anew, reestablishing their relationship and their trust. By laying down a new foundation, there was no way that anything could get between them again. Kori hoped that Richard would agree. She wasn't sure if he would be, but hoped that by asking. it would be the way for her to make him understand that she felt they were meant to be and that she would go to any lengths to fix their relationship.

It was disconcerting, no matter how 'at peace' she was, that Kori had absolutely no idea what Richard was thinking. She had essentially nothing to go by. Other than their conversation at his bedside after he had been premedicated for surgery, they had not spoked. At that point, he learned that Kori had seen him with Babs and he was already wracked with guilt. Other than the note Kori left Richard they hadn't communicated; she was gone before he had gotten out of surgery. She had her own guilt to contend with about that...

Nor was she going to be able to be able to communicate with Richard easily. To Kori's disappointment, there was no email or cell phone service. What was worse was that there was extremely limited reliable satellite phone coverage, no land lines, and there was only weekly snail mail. It truly was an island onto itself.

Kori had no way of knowing how Richard was doing physically, let alone how he was feeling about her or their relationship or where they stood. Or what happened between Richard and Barbara exactly. But that was only one of Kori's worries, but it was an unfortunate factor in all of this.

In lew of communicating regularly and even though they were spending time apart, Kori wrote Richard daily. Unable to send them, unable if she should, she held onto the letters for now. They were, however, a great catharsis to write, taking time out to think about what she'd say to him and putting those thoughts, those feelings into words.

Kori occasionally let her mind drift to a dark place as she wrote them... Did Richard even think of her every day?

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One week to the day from her arrival on Paradise island, Kori decided it was time to open up and really talk to Donna about her relationship with Richard. How they met, how it turned out they had known each other before, and how things turned upside down when she was revealed as the Princess of Tamaran and there was all the press attention. But then the thing that drove them apart: Barbara and Dick's fling or whatever...

It was funny, Kori mused; it wasn't like she was one of those that was easily persuaded by another's opinion. It wasn't just that she was older now: Kori had never been affected by peer pressure or even by a close friend like many can be. Whatever she ended deciding about Richard, it would be her decision. She might ask Donna and even others for counsel, but the choices she made could not be truly influence by anyone.

Furthermore, Donna was the last person to say something to try to sway her friend. Their history together had proven that Kori stood by Donna when others did not; when Donna made a life choice to go into a marriage others did not approve of. If anyone was going to withhold judgment about Richard and Kori's relationship, it would be Donna.

The two friends sat on the white sand beach looking out onto the ocean, the cottages on top of the cliff face behind them.

"You do realize that you can tell me anything Kori," Donna said, starting off at least in a half-teasing tone. "There is nothing you could have done that I'd ever judge. Remember, of all our friends, when I told you that I was quitting college to marry Terry, you were the only one who heard me out and listened to why."

"Perhaps that was not the wise," Kori said sadly.

"No, it was what I needed Kori!" Donna replied emphatically. "I needed to make my own mistake. I would have just resented you, pulled away from everyone further. At least you were my anchor when things fell apart." Donna looked down and started to pick up handfuls of sand with her right hand and let grains slip through her fingers back to the beach below.

"I would have warned you if I suspected anything, Donna, but I suspected nothing. Nothing. Terry took advantage of you. He was the smooth operator as they say. He even deceived the University. He said he was 29 but was 38. He was somewhat credentialed, but not to the extent that he had said to be teaching his courses. And then he took you away from all of us and from your family, my friend."

"He did... but I loved Terry with all my heart, and I miss him, I miss him still. If he hadn't been killed..." Donna suppressed a sob and Kori turned and held her. There was so much pain that remained for Donna. Things were never resolved between Donna and Terry Long, the Ancient History professor that seduced her, married her, and took her away from her friends and family. They were having difficulties and were considering a trial separation when he was killed in a car accident. The guilt haunted Donna for years, and on some levels still was. Kori let Donna go and sat back. "But Kori, that's Ancient History," Donna chuckled darkly.

Donna let the emotions wash over her and Kori watched her and waiting for her friend to recompose herself. Another minute passed and Donna finally seemed to let go, and then relaxed and smiled. "You're here to reflect on your own life, your relationship. Tell me about this new man in your life and why you needed to get so far away from him that you came a quarter of the way around the world to do it."

Kori immediately started crying, something that surprised them both. Donna put her arm around Kori's shoulders. "I apologize. I am very emotional today."

"You aren't pregnant, are you Kori?"

Kori gasped, shocked but amused by the accusation. "Oh no, Donna! That is not in any way possible!"

Donna cocked a brow. "Not possible at all?"

"No Donna. Not at all!" Donna still postured and it occurred to Kori, that her friend remained skeptical. Living on an island of women, some things should be just put plainly. "I have never had the-"

"Oh, wow." Donna gave her a kind smile and paused. "You still haven't?" After Kori nodded in affirmation, Donna continued, "So tell me about this man, I want to hear everything. Start at the beginning."

"At the very beginning? Then I must go back all the way to Tamaran." Kori said, becoming almost wistful, a seachange from her earlier breakdown.

"Really? Tamaran? Then you met him even before we met, before Switzerland?"

"Yes." Kori replied and then began her tale.

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Just as Kori was beginning to heal, Richard was doing anything but. In fact, he was coming apart. He was spending all his time in his room, with the curtains drawn and the doors closed. He did not interact with anyone with the exception of daily forced visits by Alfred who made sure that he at least had a fresh water pitcher.

Dick refused a visiting nurse that had been ordered to do his dressing changes twice a day and was not doing them himself. He was not taking his pain medication or his antibiotics. His hygiene and grooming was completely ignored. He wasn't eating. Dick only got out of be to use the toilet, and for that Alfred was very thankful. Dick was drinking some, and only at the behest of Alfred, and not what his body needed.

For the most part, Dick was civil to Alfred, but then again, he had long since thrown everything within reach when trashing his room and he didn't bother cursing out Alfred; Alfred had always been unaffected by 'the mean words' as Kori would call them.

God, does that twist my stomach more when I have yet another thought of Kori - is that 245 today I've thought of her, the woman I should be married to right now if I weren't such an utter fuck up? Why did I do this? Don't I want to be happy?

Dick refused all phone calls and visitors. Barbara came by the manor, attempting to get Dick to attend her sessions with her the first few days after his discharge from the hospital. When she realized that it was futile, she began to visit multiple times a day to just 'see' him or 'sit with' him. Each time that she was turned away, the more brazen she was and the more extravagant her claims became about the nature of the 'relationship' she allegedly now had with Dick. These visits continued for another day and she was growing more and more belligerent with Alfred and soon Bruce had to become involved.

Barbara was never even allowed to see Dick, nor was he asked if he wanted to see her. Bruce had enough of her and called Jim Gordon for a little chat that was assuredly not comfortable. But even though Bruce was completely ignoring his son, it had been three days, and something needed to be done about him. This self-destructive streak was bordering on lethal.

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Bruce did the responsible thing that an otherwise neglectful parent would do when an adult child was acting like Dick was: he called a mental health professional. Even Dr. Chase Meridian was shocked by what she saw (and smelled) but kept her composure when she entered Dick's room.

"Master Dick, Dr. Meridian is making a house call." Alfred said after a knock and opening the door, not waiting for permission to enter.

"I didn't ask for her to be here. I don't want anyone here." Dick hissed.

"I will make my leave, Master Dick. Call if you need anything. I suggest a shower."

"Thanks Alfred. Hi, Chase. Welcome to Hell," Dick said in a monotone.

Chase was slightly relieved, that there was an appropriate response if not a pleasant one. Dick might not need immediate commitment.

"Hi, Dick. How can I help?"

He looked at the ceiling and felt his eye lashes prick with tears. Chase saw another chink in Dick's armor and was encouraged that the walls Dick was putting up were likely temporary. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. I just need the clock turned back."

Chase made sure her voice was soft but clear. "I'm sorry I can't do that, Dick. But I'm curious, how would that help the situation?"

"I could control some... impulses. Not push Kori, not take things further than I should have with Babs."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Okay. Should you talk about it?"

Dick shrugged. "Not sure if it will help."

"I think it might. What happened?"

Dick sighed heavily. "I pushed Kori a bit. Sexually I mean. We decided to wait till we're married... I just love her, I just want her so much. But she made sure we didn't. She had to stop me."

"Those urges aren't abnormal, Dick."

"But I shouldn't push..."

"Not with the decision you've made, no. But you did and we can explore why you did at another point if you wish. But tell me what happened with Barbara." Chase wanted to keep the momentum going. Dick was talking. He was likely to shut down again soon.

"I gave into temptation with Babs. I kissed her a few times, spent time with her after her meetings for her opiate addiction, went out to dinner that were essentially dates, got a little drunk, and one night things got pretty out of hand..." Dick looked away and shook his head, trying to dispel the image, cursing the image when he found his body reacting to the thought of that night and Barbara's touch and insistent kisses.

"Did we sleep with her?"

"No."

"Did you want to?"

Dick look at her and smirked. "Some shrink you are, Chase. Of course I did. I'm a guy. Or at least, I'm me."

"Dick, I'm curious. Why would you say that?"

"About you?"

Chase's face was impassive. "This isn't about me. About you."

Dick smirked. "I'm a jerk with women."

"Do you really think so?"

"Haven't I proven it time and time again?"

"I really don't know everything about you Dick, but I do know that with Kori, which is what we are primarily dealing with, you weren't as you've so eloquently put it 'a jerk'."

Dick scoffed. "Where did you hear that?"

"From Kori."

"Wasn't that privileged, Doc? You were treating her."

"Hardly considered privileged in this situation. Dick, you are not doing well. You are not looking at the situation in perspective and I am not going to let you harm yourself psychologically if I can help it. Let me reframe things for you, put them in to context from what Kori told me. She may not be here, but before you beat yourself up any more, hear me out. But first, what happened with your hand?"

"I got mad when things... well, when Babs and I were in the car and we were fooling around. I realized I really had cheated on Kori, I got so mad at myself... I hit the car door and it also went through the car window and I did a bit of damage." By the time Dick had finished speaking his voice was shaking.

"All the more reason I need you to understand that you were not as terrible to Kori as you are deluding yourself into believing. If you don't attend to your hand - and I am beginning to think from that odor you aren't - you are risking your physical health along with your mental health," Chase said seriously.

"Why should I care, Chase?"

"Why? Why should you care, Dick? Are things so terrible that you are here in your room, not letting anyone in who cares about you, not taking care of yourself, including not taking care of your injury? You could never use the hand again, or worse even lose your hand, or your life. Are you really thinking this through?"

Tears filled Dicks eyes. His voice lost any inflection, any actual signs of emotion. "Does it matter? I'm not getting back with Kori."

"Who says?"

"Well...Kori saw Babs and I together after I injured the hand and she and I were close, acting like a couple. I found out Kori saw me and Babs in the ER like that when I talked to Kori right before surgery. I asked for some space, told her I wasn't sure what to do - something I didn't mean other than I don't deserve her. So she left, as in she's on some island off of Greece."

"Is she gone forever?"

"I don't... I don't know."

"Did you break up?"

"No, she left me a note."

"Let me read the note, Dick." Chase took time to read the note. "Dick, you do realize that she is more than offering you a chance here, don't you? I don't seeing her ending things here."

Dick answered sounding defeated, but at least there was some emotion now. "That's what she says, yes... but... why would she bother?"

"The ball's in your court, Richard. Nothing is guaranteed, but if you are in here thinking that Kori is over in the Greek Isles getting over you, unless you have proof otherwise, you've misconstrued the facts. Get up, get going before you lose your hand and have something to get really depressed about, okay mister."

"Thanks Chase," Dick said softly, somewhat embarrassed. "I'll try."

"You need to do more than try. And I'm going to open the blinds, you need some light in here."

Chase moved across the room and open the Roman shades. Dick flinched from the sunlight they let in. It had been a while since he'd seen the light of day.

"Thanks again, Chase."

"I'd kiss you goodbye but you are disgusting. I'll check on you tomorrow." With a wave, Dr. Chase Meridian stepped out of Dick's room to go and find Bruce Wayne and give her the cautiously optimistic news that Dick might be all right but that she would need to be in to see him daily.

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To be continued...

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Thank you for reading and please review. Things aren't going to continue to improve for both or either of them... there is still a lot to this story!