AFTERMATH

Chapter 19

Olympus

Ares and his children and the Dogs of War were withdrawn. Zeus would have punished them all but there were still those that maintained their objectivity.

Athena said,"It seems to me that we are forgetting one thing. As much as we may not like to admit it,Ares helped fight against Darkseid's forces,and contributed to bringing back balance into the world of men and gods."

Ares said dryly,"I don't need you to speak up for me,Athena. I can defend myself."

Poseidon glared,"Defend yourself?You had those cubs of yours attack me!Usurp Zeus' power..."

Ares folded his ams."Not true. Zeus was not here...so technically I didn't usurp him..."

Hera exclaimed,"This is not a jest,Ares. You and your minions must be punished!Your plotting and treachery nearly cost us our position."

Zeus looked at Ares."I have told you time and again your ambitions are blinded by your own arrogance."

Ares replied,"Father,you made me God of War. Forgive me if that makes one a tad ambitious."

Athena put in ironically,"It's not as if it's the first time he's done this. And the only reason he had the opportunity was because of you,Great one."

Zeus looked at her darkly."What?"

"The Quintessence made a bad judgment. You took a man with a fractured mind and placed too much power and responsibility on his mortal shoulders. Gog was your creation ."

Hades added bluntly,"And mistake."

Zeus looked at his brother gravely."You side with Athena on this?"

"Let us face facts. Ares could not have done what he did without Gog. And due to Gog's madness,we got Darkseid. Yes,you stopped the lord of Apokolips,but others,including Ares,stood up to his might. Before you condemn him to Ixion's wheel,or the children to Mount Caucasus,consider your actions first."

There was silence.

Zeus looked at Ares,Phobos,Deimos,Harmonia,Eris and Devastation for a moment. He gestured abruptly,"Phobos and Deimos,you are condemned to help Hephaestus in the forge for a millenia..."

The brothers looked to protest. Zeus continued,"Eris and Devastation will go and aid Hecate..."

Devastation groaned,"That ill tempered old hag?I'd rather be in Tartarus!"

"It can be arranged if I hear one more dissenting tongue,"promised Zeus with a stare that quietened all.

His eyes softened at Harmonia. He lifted the amulet she had loaned to Devastation and rebuked gently,"Although what you did saved us,this amulet was never for the use of the likes of Ares or Devastation. You are hereby banned from its use for an eon."

She bowed and accepted her punishment with a grace."It is as you will,Lord."

Eris muttered,"She always gets special treatment."

Zeus regarded Ares."And as for you, my dear son,there is little I can do to you that would punish you for what you have done. You presence in the world is as needful as is Aphrodite's .But I think there is one thing that I will ban you from interfering with..."

All eyes looked at him in interest. What could Zeus ban Ares from that wouldn't go against the law of balance?

Zeus said,"You will not interfere in the laws of Time nor abet with any being that can manipulate it."

Ares' spine suddenly stiffened. Athena,Aphrodite,Hermes,Hera and Hestia began to smile.

Zeus continued,"What ever the future holds for the world it shall be left to the Fates,not you! If I hear so much as a whisper of your name with any matter relating to the Princess and a child ,I will personally flay you myself and then hang you from Caucasus for the vultures to pick out your eyes. Is that understood?"

Ares bowed stiffly."Yes,Zeus."

"Good. Now get out of my sight!All of you!"

Diana found her mother and sisters in Washington. The President himself had sent the Amazons a message of gratitude for their help. Many of her sisters,who had not been killed or hurt, were staying back to help with the clean-up and rescue operations .

Hippolyta embraced her."Oh, my child,you are alive and well!"

"I am. How did you come to be here,Mother?"

"It is a long story. I will tell you once the dust settles."

"How many have we lost?"

"Over three hundred."

Diana clenched her fists."I wasn't even here to help..."

"You were at Gog and Darkseid's mercy. I just thank the gods you are alive."

Diana replied stiffly,"The gods have nothing to do with it."

Hippolyta touched her shoulder. She had been told how the Man of Steel had fallen. She felt a sense of shame."Have you heard from J'onn?"

She shook her head and tried to say lightly,"No news is good news they say." Her voice was unsteady.

"Diana..."Hippolyta looked at her with real motherly concern."I know how you must feel..."

She put her hand up."No,mother,you have no idea how I feel. How I must stay here and take casualties to the hospital,help rescue people trapped under rubble,comfort those who have lost homes and loved ones,clear the streets,take food and supplies to makeshift shelters,move the dead,deal with looters...when all the while I want to be up there...to know what is happening to him...And all that is stopping me from leaving it all is that I know, if I were up there and he were here,he'd be doing this!"

She walked away,leaving her mother staring with a sense of wonder and dismay. General Phillipus noted her expression and asked,"What is it,Majesty?"

Hippolyta said, with a stab of guilt."I had no idea it had gotten this far."

"What has,my Queen?"

"Diana's feelings for him."

"Superman?Yes,I know."

She looked at her pleadingly,"Surely it is only a phase?An infatuation?She does not even know him...in...in...a way a man knows a woman and he is bonded to another..."

"My Queen it has been an age since you allowed yourself to feel anything after you were betrayed. I too feel as possessive of our Princess as if she were my own. I want her to remain the pure and joyful child we knew. But she is a woman and her life is not as we could ever imagine...This thing between her and the Kryptonian. ..it may not be of the flesh..yet...but it is of the spirit. Fire burns out of fleshly delights,as we both know, but the spark that ignites the spirit,that is eternal."

Hippolyta sighed."I don't know,Phillipus,I don't know. I've gone against many by allowing men of the League to come to the island but I am not ready to risk my daughter,even for a Superman!"

Wonder Woman flew to a shelter,taking fresh food supplies with her. She had barely dropped it off and emerged ,when she saw the Batcraft outside a soldier's outpost, that was acting as a first aid station. She flew down to take a look. When she peered into the tent,to her surprise, she saw Catwoman cleaning off the blood from a deep gash in a soldier's head,whilst Batman was suturing another's hand.

The Private who was having his head cleaned was flirting outrageously. Catwoman said dryly,"Down boy!I'm just here to bandage your head. But I can do your mouth while we're at it."

The Private looked at her incorrigibly."I'll suffer through anything for you."

The Lieutenant, who was with Batman, whispered curiously,"You two dating?"

Batman warned,"Be quiet before my needle slips."

"Seriously,she's wow...all that leather...wow."

"She's got a a whip which she's very good with."

"Yeah?You mean tying up people and stuff?"

"No,strangling them."

"Oh."

The Lieutenant got up and gave Selina an anxious look and left. Selina's Private blew her a kiss as he departed,but when he saw Wonder Woman appear,he made a right about turn."Ahem,I have a sudden pain in my..."

Batman gave him a rough,"Out!"and pulled down the flap of the tent for the moment.

Selina tutted."Men!So,Wondrous,you okay?Word was that you were in a bit of a sticky situation."

Diana replied,"I'm well enough. How are you two?"

"We're surviving. Who'd think I would be in Washington acting Florence Nightingale?Bruce here may not be the most chirpy of co-workers but I'm bearing my cross."

Diana's brows rose."Bruce?You told her?"

Selina shrugged,"No,I peeped. I wouldn't have but he was unconscious and I thought he might have cracked his skull and harpies were after us..."

Batman cut in ironically,"For which I'm so thankful .Makes one wonder whether it was due to kindness or spite."

Catwoman picked up a scalpel."You have a handsome face,Bruce,I'm sure the ladies will mourn if I accidentally cut it."

Diana got between them both."Okay,you two,play nicely now."She took Batman by the arm and asked Catwoman."Can I talk to him a minute?"

She waved scathingly.'"You don't need my permission."

In a corner of the tent,Diana asked,"Have you heard anything?"

He said,"All I know is that he's in the infirmary."

"J'onn hasn't said anything?"

"No,other than he's still breathing."

Diana let out a breath of relief."Thank Hera."

Batman commented,"Maybe you should check on him."

Diana folded her arms."There are hundreds injured;thousands homeless; three thousand and fifty dead,and counting;no electricity and running water;food supplies and blankets still coming in;debris everywhere,looting...and that's only Washington. The only good thing is that it's July and no one will freeze to death. Have you heard from Gotham?"

He replied,"Nightwing had better stats to report. The assault was not as concentrated as it was here. But Gotham still has many injured and infrastructural damage."

"You plan to stay here long?"

"We'll probably be here until they can get more medics from across the border."

Diana glanced at Catwoman."I like her."

Batman frowned."Your point being?"

Diana smiled. It was the first time she felt like smiling for the entire day. How ironic life was!Who would have thought she'd be in this position seven years later!She,who had been so fascinated by Batman,but who never really knew Bruce Wayne,was now regarding him with the same amused affection all the other Leaguers had felt whenever he tried to evade any talk of romance. She could see for herself that there was a chemistry between Bruce and Selina that no one could deny. Not even him. He had the will to avoid Diana years ago but he could not do it with Selina. Diana felt a surge of pleasure to know that finally someone was moving the heart of the Dark Knight. And it was someone who totally exasperated him!Someone whom he would never have chosen in his wildest dreams!Someone who possessed a quality a control-freak like Batman hated:unpredictability.

Diana said softly,"It's never easy accepting it when it really happens, is it?"

He said nothing as a soldier peered in and said,"We have another batch coming in. They should be here in five."

Catwoman looked over."Are you two finished talking about me?"

Wonder Woman grinned as Batman began waspishly,"No one was talking about..."

Selina said whimsically,"Lighten up,Bats. Can't take a joke, can you?"

Diana said briskly,"I've got to go. I'll see you two around."She waved and was gone.

Selina playfully mused,"Hey,did you know we are "you two" now?"

He said gruffly,"You are determined to get my back up, aren't you?"

She laughed and sat down on the table."It's way too much fun not to. You know what's your problem?You need to give Batman a break and let Bruce laugh more."

He straightened up."There's little to laugh about today."

"True but we're doing our best. When I'm done tonight and I go back to Gotham,I won't have an apartment to go back to,and that's no laughing matter!"

He looked startled."What?"

"Oh yes. Didn't I tell you?An hour before you helped me on the roof,my building was set afire by the minions of the God of War. I 'll be searching for a shelter tonight."

"You didn't say anything."

"Well,I'm not the kind of gal to whine about things I can't change."

"Did you manage to salvage anything?"

"What I have on. It's a beautiful irony, isn't it?All I have is gone and when I could be looting,I'm here, with you of all people,patching up soldiers."

Batman saw a couple of injured soldiers come in. He touched her shoulder."You won't have to search for shelter,Selina. I think we can find a corner for you to overnight in the Wayne mansion."

She grimaced."I didn't tell you in order for you to feel sorry for me. I'm not a stray cat that you take in."

"Oh, believe me,I know that. I'll just tell Alfred to lock away the Ming vases,and Faberge eggs."

She looked impressed."Well,well,so you can make a joke!"

They didn't get to talk further,as both had persons coming to sit before them. But a kind of easy silence descended while they worked together.

Lois Lane sat at the bedside of Superman. It had been hours since he fell ; the kryptonite shard had been extracted and he had been subjected to the healing ray but he remained unconscious with machines breathing for him and measuring his vitals. J'onn and Ray wouldn't give a prognosis. It was difficult to predict the outcome for one whose physiology was unique. All one could do was wait and hope. Lois had been allowed to sit with him after it was felt that little more could be done. She had only just received some positive news from her mother. Her father was alive and well, as was Lucy and her family. That was one thing to take comfort in. She looked at Clark as he laid under the white sheet,bared to the waist and still battered and bruised all over. At least she was here with him. She felt for his mother. Martha Kent was still at the Fortress and had been informed by J'onn of her son's condition. She would have demanded under normal conditions to come to him but knew the League was stretched and stressed. She simply requested to be kept up to date with his progress. She knew if things took a turn for the worse,J'onn would teleport her in. Lois sighed and covered his hand with her own.

She was aware of falling asleep and waking some two hours later. She sat up and yawned. Someone had put a blanket over her. It must have been the Manhunter or Vixen. She looked at her watch. It was after four am. She looked at Clark;he was still unconscious. She sighed and got up in order to stretch her legs. She walked to the nearest window and stared at the earth below.

The door slid open. Wonder Woman was on the threshold. She looked weary and haggard.

Diana gave her a wan smile from the doorway."Hello,Lois."

Lois observed dispassionately,"You look wiped out."

"I am. How is Clark?"She looked at him from where she stood,not moving to come any closer.

"He's still unconscious."

"I just popped in to see if he and the others were okay...There are quite a few broken bones...Thank Hera no one died..."

"The fortune of being meta-human,but I guess ordinary citizens weren't so lucky. What's the death toll now?"

"Six thousand plus."

"And climbing,I bet."

"It's not good,but help has come in from unaffected states and overseas."

"It'd be quite a story if the press were allowed to report it."

"The curfew is for the safety of everyone,Lois."

She folded her arms."How lucky I must be to be here then!"

Diana sensed her hostility and said ,"Maybe I should go..."

"Yes,you look as if you need to rest."

Diana gave Clark a final glance and left. She had barely gone two meters down the corridor when she heard a scream. Diana turned and ran towards the room. She was barely before the doorway when Lois was thrown out by some unseen force. She hit the opposite wall and fell unconscious to the floor. Diana ran to the door and her eyes widened. Gog was looming over the unconscious Superman with a leer of triumph. He looked wild and unkempt without his helmet and collar;and had his blackened and bent staff. He ripped off the head of the staff,leaving the handle with its edge like a jagged stake. He held it with both hands,and aimed high at Clark's heart.

"Your heart needs piercing like the demon that you are!"

Wonder Woman took off her tiara and whipped it at him. It hit the handle out of his grasp. It clanged to the floor. Gog turned and growled like a rabid dog."You! I should have killed you when I had the chance!"

She flew at him and punched him across the room."Yes,a pity you didn't."

He slammed into the wall with the monitors. He got up. She was standing in front of Clark's bed as if putting herself between it and Gog. Gog ripped the monitors,the tall bedside cabinet and flung them at her. She punched them apart. A pipe was ripped down from the ceiling,and he came at her hard with it. She took the force on her bracelets and pushed back with all her might. Soon they were grappling together. Warrior strength that was not at its peak was pitted against brute force and psychotic energy.

Gog gritted,"I will finish the job today. You and Satan here will not be breeding any demonic brats to further mislead the world!"

For a moment Diana looked confused. She smacked him down."What are you talking about,you lunatic?"

Gog laughed and instead of rising, phased out. She turned around urgently, looking for him,only to have him appear behind her and knocked her behind the head.

She fell upon her knees. He held her by the neck and lifted her. His eyes were dilated."You don't know do you,Amazon?"

He brought his face to hers and growled."Five years in the future you are with child...his child...It happens before I, as an innocent bystander, lose my wife and my child and my home. I swore after I was granted my powers I would avenge them...I would kill Satan...but Satan eluded me. His brat eluded me. And you eluded me. I was confused by his soft words of surrender .But I will not make that mistake this time. I will slay you both and any would be hell spawn in the making!"

Diana looked bewildered."You lie!"

"I never lie,witch!I'd recommend you ask Superman but it'd make no difference to you."

Diana tried to get her lasso on him but he knew what she wanted to do. He He phased in and out,making it impossible for her to throw the loop over him. He appeared behind her,grabbing her in a bear hug. Diana felt him yank the lasso out of her grasp and wrap it around her neck. He was on the point of snapping her neck with it when he was tackled from behind. Gog was hit clear through the steel wall of Clark's room into the adjoining bay of four beds. Gog slammed into a trolley of medical supplies. He shook his head and spat, "So,Satan,rises."

Superman,bare-chested,with only the blue tights on,his body still cut and bruised,his cheeks colourless, was standing.

Diana struggled up."Clark..."

He pushed her towards Lois."Get clear!Get her out. Help the other patients!"There were other Leaguers in bed, incapacitated with broken bones,burns or lacerations. They were all awake now but could do little other than fall out of bed and try to attack Gog .He bludgeoned the Shining Knight,neutralized Ice by ripping down pipes and blasting her with hot air and broke Green Arrow's other arm. The alarms began to go off.

She was about to protest when the same trolley came at Clark. He held up his arm and he grimaced as it hit him hard. He flung it aside and went after Gog. Gog met him half way across the floor and they ended up thundering into the window and shattering it. As they burst out into the vacuum of space,Diana had to rush to save the others before they were sucked outside.

Outside the two figures tumbled along the rotating Satellite and members on the upper deck watched in astonishment and dismay.

J'onn was about to phase out when he heard Diana's shout."J'onn we have a situation. There's a breach and Shining Knight isn't breathing!"

The Manhunter had no choice but to go to her aid. There was no one else on duty who could get to the infirmary in seconds. Neither was there anyone who could go out in airless space to help Superman. Vixen,Jonah and the Atom Smasher looked on in vain.

Superman was flagging. Gog was coming at him again. He reserves of strength was too low to continue with a fist fight on the satellite's surface. The effects of the kryptonite was still in his system. He was significantly weakened. His eyes turned towards the moon. He flew towards it. At least he was getting Gog away from the Satellite and Diana. He was over the scarred terrain,near a JLA outpost when Gog appeared and sent him crashing into the building. He got up,picking up a metal girder with a grunt of real pain and effort and swung with all his might. Gog fell heavily into a crater. Clark doubled over, gasping for breath,knowing Gog was rising and coming again.

Gog tore out a pylon from the ground and hit him into the dark side of the moon. He fell so hard,he actually eroded the surface.

"You're as weak as a sacrificial lamb. I will end it now!"The pylon slammed Superman to his knees. A fist punched the wound between his shoulders,and through the bandages he began to bleed once more. Gog pounded him mercilessly.

"I will then go back for her and finish what I started."

Blood was trickling down his nose and through his lips. He was losing focus and what little strength he had left. Gog began to blur. Gog laughed,"And this time I will take my time when I peel the skin off her lovely bones. I will show no mercy."

Superman let out a groan of sheer will and he gritted,"So will I!"

His eyes glowed red and he aimed for Gog's one good eye. Gog bellowed as he was blinded. His balled fist,which was coming at Superman,suddenly stopped in mid air. Superman added,"And this time it will take you an eternity to navigate the Time Stream."

Heat vision sliced off the fanatical villain's forearm from the elbow. Gog roared in pain and rage. Superman reached and ripped the time device off the wrist. He crushed it between his fingers.

Gog screamed in disbelief and felt his body's molecules begin to become unstable. He was disintegrating. He began to fade.

He screeched,"You'll rue the day,Kryptonian!"

Superman panted,"I'll be ready and waiting for you."

Gog vanished and Superman turned weakly towards the direction of the JLA outpost. He had to get to it and use the teleporter before he lost all consciousness.

J'onn had to help Diana seal the breach and get the patients and Lois to safety. They then had to attend to Shining Knight and the others. There was no way of contacting Superman to know if he was alive. He had no transmitter and the JLA radar lost him when he and Gog went over to the dark side of the moon. Vixen and Jonah could have suited up and transported onto the outpost on the moon but J'onn would have none of it.

Diana volunteered to go but J'onn was insistent."No,you are exhausted. I don't want you facing Gog in this condition."

"But he could be dying...dead..."she snapped,clenching her fists.

He touched her shoulders."I have contacted GL. He will come with Hal and Kyle. Let us wait for them before we put any more people in danger."

"But..."

"Clark would have it no other way. You know that."

Her shoulders sagged. She walked away to the glass window. She knew he was right. She was a mass of conflicting thoughts and emotions. What Gog had told her in the infirmary about her and Clark had stunned her. She didn't know what to make of it. Her hand went inadvertently to her flat stomach and she stared at the moon. Reality imposed itself upon her mind when she saw Lois' reflection in the window behind her,as the reporter walked in and went straight to the Manhunter who had just come off the video messenger with a very worried Dinah.

She turned. Lois had just woken and was asking the Manhunter about Clark."Why hasn't anyone gone to help him!What are you all standing around for?"She looked at Vixen and Jonah and Diana impatiently.

J'onn explained gently,"Lois,we are stretched to the limit. Shining Knight may just die. He has cerebral haemorrhaging. And the others are just as critical. Gog is as mad as he is unpredictable. If I leave here,he can teleport in and destroy this last bastion of ours. I have ordered the others to stay put until we get back-up. They are mere minutes away..."

Lois fumed,"So we wait while Clark dies?"She turned on Diana."You!You care for him so much!Why aren't you going to help him?"

Diana was taken aback by the anger in her voice,but she saw the desperation and fear and said unsteadily,"Don't you think it isn't killing all of us here what Gog might do to him?What we may find when we go?Don't you know that I'd have no second thought to flying out of here right now and going after him?"

Lois opened her lips to speak,when a voice sounded behind them."If you had, you and I would have had a serious falling out."

All eyes turned and saw Superman. He was standing on the threshold of the doorway. He looked terrible. He was bloodied and bruised. One eye was half shutting,the open wound was seeping down his back,he was swaying where he stood. He had a painfully crooked smile and it's warmth was directed at one person in the room:Wonder Woman.

Diana stood frozen on the spot,unable to move for fear that she would just shame herself as an Amazon by bursting into tears.

Lois saw the look that passed between them and her heart sank.

The Manhunter rushed forward."Kal."

He collapsed before anyone could reach him and passed out.

Lois remained nonetheless at his side. Whether it was out of love,loyalty,gratitude,or simply denial,she wouldn't leave the Satellite until she knew he was going to be okay. He was still unconscious but the Atom was happy to report that he was over the most critical stage and his invulnerability was beginning to,albeit slowly,reassert itself.

She watched him as she sat near his bedside. He began to stir and she jumped up."Clark?"

His head shifted restlessly."Darkseid...no..."

Lois stroked the hair off his brow."It's okay. You're okay..."

"No...let her go..."

"It's alright,Smallville. You're safe."

He was delirious."Gog...have mercy..."

She whispered,"I'm here...It's Lois"

"Diana!"

His blue eyes flew open and he jerked to wakefulness. His body was filmed with sweat and he was breathing heavily. He squinted at the light and looked around slightly disorientated. He took in a deep breath,as he remembered."She's okay..."He focused and suddenly realized Lois was watching him,a look of mortification on her face.

"Lois..."

"How nice of you to acknowledge me,Clark."She had taken a step back and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Lois,I thought Diana was in..."He sat up,wincing slightly from his wounds.

She interrupted sarcastically,"Is there anything that isn't centered around your Diana?"

There was no denying it now.

He got up slowly;he was far from full strength but he pulled off the lines from his arms and chest. He took a robe from a hook, threw it on and looked at Lois gravely."We need to talk."

"Talk?I think the time for talk has long gone. I'd be a fool not to know after these last few days where I figure in this triangle."

"Then at least hear me out"

Her voice was terse."Hear you out?Answer me this,how long has it been going on?"

"It's not like that. It's hard to explain."He folded his arms and went to the portal and looked out ."What I never wanted was to hurt anyone. But it's happening in spite of everything. I never planned on it turning out this way."

"What way?Fooling yourself that you cared for me?"

"I do care for you..."

"Oh, spare me the verbosity!"

"Then I can only say I'm truly sorry."

Lois cut to the chase."Tell me,truthfully,what is she to you?"

He said simply,"Everything."

It was a bitter pill to swallow. She said icily,"I should have seen it coming. It was there before me for months. But I was in denial. Even when Gog told me about your child."

Clark turned,his blue eyes darkened, like a squall over clear skies"You knew?"

"Yes,I knew."

He clenched his fingers."You said nothing...and that could have made all the difference to all those innocent people...I could have stopped Gog before...Why would you be so..?"

She retorted,"Selfish?Forgive me for loving and wanting you at all cost."

Clark heard the bitterness in her voice,saw the hurt in her eyes and felt his anger subside. He said,"I hope someday you will find it in your heart to forgive me. I tried to be honest with our relationship but I all the while I was fighting against something that I couldn't shake off."

She waved him away."Stop. I don't need your pity. You played martyr long enough! I won't pine away and die,you know. I still have some pride. Now you're free to go to her."

He laughed ironically,"Go to her?You really don't get it, do you?This isn't about me wanting to throw you off for another woman. It's more complicated than you could ever imagine. One just doesn't go for an Amazon princess. And not after all that has passed or could come to pass."

Lois tutted satirically."Typical,Smallville,you're sparing her. How utterly like you. You must really love this woman."

Clark said nothing .He turned away and said,"I can only hope you'll respect what you've seen and been told?"

Lois said wearily,"You ought to know me by now. If I wanted to spill the beans about you all, I would have a long time ago. I think it's time I go home and see my family. Good-bye,Superman."

Clark watched her leave and sank upon the chair. It was as if a burden had been both lifted and placed on his shoulders now. He leaned his head back against the wall and stared blankly at the ceiling. He was remembering the promise to a desperate queen and mother.

The news filtered throughout the satellite. Superman was going to make a full recovery. Diana heard it but instead of rushing down to the infirmary as she wanted,she stayed away. This was noted by several Leaguers and one decided to take her to task for it.

"Well,Di,when are you going to check out Big Blue?"

She turned from the report she was perusing and looked at Flash."What?"

"Supes. Everyone has been down to see him except you!"

"I will. I was busy."

He frowned."Okay but you clocked out half an hour ago. Come on,he even pretended to ask for you in passing,which was even more pathetic than you hiding from him."

She said defensively,"What are you babbling on about?I'll go. For heavens sake,Wally,he's not dying."

Flash shot back."He nearly did..for you."

She looked pained."I know...I just wanted to give him and Lois time to themselves..."

"Lane left the satellite yesterday. She looked cheesed off."

Diana looked taken aback."What?"

Flash put his hand over his mouth and whispered."Shyera reckons they've called it quits."

Diana shook her head."You must be wrong...why would they call it quits?"

Wally folded his arms."Oh,I think it's clear to everyone with some gray matter in their skulls."

She scowled,and dropped her papers on the console. She retorted,"Well that leaves you out, doesn't it?"

He protested."Now that's just plain mean!"

She looked somewhat guilty."Sorry,Flash but I need to go."

"Great!"

"No. I'm...I'm going home to Boston..."

She hurried out the room leaving Wally scratching his head. Shyera, who was standing across the room, looked up and said,"Nice going,Big Mouth. You've really panicked her now."

Diana was back at the satellite for Monitor Duty two days later. She had tried to get out of it but no one would swap. The night shift was very quiet. The members that were on patrol had no dire emergencies;nothing that they couldn't deal with swiftly and by themselves. With her in the satellite was J'onn and Steel. Both had other duties to attend and she was alone in the main control room.

She had not gone to see Superman as yet. Her excuse to herself tonight had been that he was asleep when she came on duty. She would see him tomorrow when she got off at dawn. It was three am and all was silent and the lights dim. She set the computer to alert her via her comlink,and got up to stretch her legs and grab some refreshment in the galley.

She walked in the dark kitchen area and turned on a light. She flicked on the electric kettle and hunted out a mug and tea bag. She went to the refrigerator and opened it. She peered in and grumbled as she saw that the milk had been pushed in behind a huge bottle of juice and a half eaten gateau on the bottom shelf."Has to be Wally pushing it so far..."

She bent to retrieve it.

An amused voice said,"Now there's a sight for sleepy eyes. " Superman was leaning against the doorway,bare footed,in pajama bottoms and a tee-shirt.

She let out a gasp of surprise and the milk slipped from her fingers. Clark moved like lightning and caught the bottle before it could fall and smash to the ground. He put the bottle on the nearby counter top and closed the opened fridge door behind her."Careful,Princess."

She stood looking at him,feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks."Kal...You startled me. What are you doing up?"

'I couldn't sleep. So I thought I'd mosey on up here for a snack. J'onn said there were fresh cookies somewhere. You want some?"

She gestured to the kettle now clicking off automatically."No,I'm just having tea."She was aware him leaning against the counter and his eyes following her as she made her tea.

"So,"he asked casually,"why haven't you been down to see us in the infirmary?"

"I wanted to,but I was busy..."

He said bluntly,"And I'd say you've been avoiding me."

"I...there was so much to do...Many of my sisters died and the Embassy was damaged...Not to mention the crisis in the cities themselves."

He nodded gravely,"Yes,it must have been chaos after the fighting in the States. J'onn filled me in."

"It was very hard. We missed you."

He said wryly,"I'm hoping J'onn and Ray will give me the all clear tomorrow so I can help. They've been fussing about the fact that I need to give myself time to convalesce properly."

"Well,you were touch and go for a while. We thought at one time we'd lost you."

He smiled ruefully."I thought I'd lost me too."

She lifted her eyes to his face. It had the remnants of bruises. She said softly,"I'm glad you made it."

"Same here .I'm not trying to make you feel guilty about not coming to see me. I just needed to know you were alright."

Diana paled as he turned her to face him. He reached out as if he couldn't help himself and touched her cheek with the back of his hand."Are you okay?"

The real worry in his eyes made her blurt out honestly," No,I'm not..."

"What it it?"

He saw her hesitate. He ordered, in that quietly caressing way of his,"Tell me,Diana."

She swallowed."Gog...he told me...about us..."

Clark sighed, like a man who was weary and couldn't put up a false front any longer. "You know?"

"Is it true?What he said?"Her hand touched his arm.

"In his mind Superman betrayed him and he set out to destroy me and then, failing that,my progeny. All I know for sure is that the future isn't set in stone. Gog interfered with the Time Stream so much that events have been distorted. What was said to be may never come to pass."

She whispered,"You saw the child ?"

"I didn't even know it at the time but I held her."

Her eyes looked awed."A girl?"

"She was beautiful. Small as she was, she helped save my hide. Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime. Just not now."

"What...was she like?"

His voice was almost reverential."She must have been about nine months old. She had blue eyes and hair like mahogany. I thought about it long after...She looked like my biological mother, Lara. And she flies...I didn't fly at that age."

Diana sighed."I did."

He ran his hand through his hair and muttered,"This is crazy."

She swallowed."Clark...I don't know what to do with this."

"I do."

"What?"

He was pale but resolute."Gog nearly killed everything I hold dear. He is now lost in the Time Stream and remains a potential threat. Our child was like a wonderful dream,Diana,let her remain so."

She knew it was the hardest thing for him to say and her voice was trembling as she asked wistfully,"You believe that?"

"I do."

Her forlorn expression spoke volumes."I'm sorry,Diana."

She shook her head."Don't be...I understand...After what we've been through these last few days,I fully understand. I don't think I could bear seeing you sacrifice yourself for me again."

He bent and kissed her brow as if it were the most sacred thing in the world."Don't ever doubt that I'd do it again. Now go else I'll do something I'll really regret."

Clark gave her the tea and a gentle push. Diana gave him a wan smile and obeyed. He was left alone and he let out a ragged breath. God help him, to get through the days ahead.