"Simply that if my predictions are correct, you will blow in here and start arguing with me about something and we will get nothing accomplished", Barbara barked at Helena as she lowered herself between the bars supported by Dinah.
"Nice. Glad to see we are all cheery this morning. Move over kid. I'm taking over, wouldn't want to blow in here and ruin the game." Helena locked eyes with Barbara as she passed around toward Dinah. Just to prove a point, she allowed Barbara to support herself a little longer than necessary, moving in only once Barbara's arms began to shake.
"You two are just… just… stupid. I've seen a lot of stupid people, hell, I am in high school, but you two take the cake. Really, you deserve each other!" Dinah grabbed a towel and left the gym in a huff. This concerned Barbara since she hadn't cemented Dinah's plans for the day. She could pop back up at any time and catch her.
Barbara took advantage of the moment, her mind still quicker than most and evermore focused on her afternoon plans. "She's right Helena. I'm sorry. I'm fine here. Alfred said the new chair components are here, so I think I'll skip working out today and work on the new chair so I can ditch this ridiculous thing. Why don't you go after her and take her with you. I'll be fine."
"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to let you…"
"It's fine. Just…" Barbara was concentrating on swinging around and falling back into her chair.
Helena moved swiftly to push the chair closer. "No, it's not alright. I used your dis… your le… your situation, against you. That's just wrong."
"It is wrong and it's not a 'situation' Helena. It is what it is and it will always be, so pick a word you are comfortable with. They all make me sick." With that, Barbara pushed passed Helena and retreated to a her work station in the corner beside a large stack of boxes.
Helena, for lack of a response, just left.
…
Once behind the work table, Barbara pulled up the new clocktower proximity scanner and made sure that no one was home. She then set the program to alert her to anyone's presence. This made it easier for her to focus without the threat of being caught working on the transponder. As she stared down at the small device with its many sensors, wires, chips, and vital read-out screens, she was impressed with herself. Man, when I really put my mind to screwing any chance I have of getting my arms and legs back to their "pre-Harley" state, I really do it right! Her eyes blurred as she was then taken back in her mind through the short 6 month relationship she and Wade had shared….
"Could we do that over coffee? With me. Together. The two of us."
"Well you're just gonna have to trust me with the plans. I promise they will be silly and absolutely mindless."
"Yeah. Good point. After all, you're funny and interesting, maybe a little bit mysterious. They'll probably run screaming."
"Barbara, when I look at you, I just want to take care of you…." This last though sent her careening back to reality and the reason she was pushing herself to walk for him. "No one needs to 'take care' of me!" She reached for the pills she'd received from her 'secret' source and took one more scan of the bottle, this time allowing her mind to wander through more motivating moments in her recent past….
"Last night I heard Wade's mother telling him I wasn't good enough for him because I don't have legs that work. Yeah, you're right. What do I know about being different?"
Her mind was made up. "Let's try this thing out." Dropping two of the red capsules into the palm of her hand, she took a deep breath and swallowed them down with some water. Because of the weakness in her arms, it was a little more difficult connecting the transponder, but she managed to put it in place. As she reached down to grab the wheels of her chair in an effort to move toward the mats where she'd take her test drive, she was almost overcome by pain, so much pain that she could hardly locate its exact origin. It was her legs. Suddenly she could feel what seemed to be pain reaching every previously dead nerve from her waist down. It was overwhelming. She could feel her heart beating faster and faster. Then all at once she took a deep breath and pushed over to the mats, as she reached down and began placing the braces on her legs, her arms joined in the pain-fest. "It's worth it Barbara. Just ignore it. You've felt worse…" Actually, in seven years, she hadn't felt anything, not in her legs. Even previous usage of the transponder with Shiva and Harley had only allowed her distant feeling, enough to aid her in balancing on her useless extremities.
Once the braces were in place, she pulled herself slowly to a standing position and just as she had before, began slowly walking across the room. Her heart still racing, her legs still aching, she continued. Though surprised at the success after being so weak for the past few weeks, she could feel enough to know the braces were a good precaution. "There, I can live with this. At least long enough to find Wade, find him and embrace him. Embrace him as a whole person."
"Then what?" A voice inside her head burst through the moment. She couldn't afford to allow these thoughts to invade her plan. The last time she saw Wade, he had just learned she was a crime fighter, not just a mild-mannered teacher in a wheelchair. They had kissed and made up with a little clarity gained from seeing her in action, then he was gone. The events of that night had played over and over in her head. She had walked through the city once again, swinging through the air and saving the day, saving everyone, but Wade. She owed him this. He should have seen her.
Satisfied with her trial run and slightly afraid if she sat there longer, she would talk herself out of using the transponder to go meet Wade at the hospital; Barbara decided to call it a day. She hid the transponder and went over to the boxes she had promised Helena would be occupying her. Just a week ago, she would have given anything for her high-tech power chair, but now, gazing into the boxes, she wasn't sure. It had all become the same to her, too little, too late. Instead, she went about strewing the pieces around making it look like she had been hard at work then went back to her room to shower and change.
As she reached for the door, even without the transponder, she felt a surge of energy as her arm stretched steadily toward the knob. Also, without the transponder was the ensuing flood of pain. Focused on the hot bat that awaited her, Barbara took a deep breath and swallowed the feeling. After her relaxing bath, she found that the pain had subsided, but the energy was still present. It was almost like she had a buzz. Well, I can't say that I hate the side effects here, she thought as she began pulling ingredients for dinner out of the refrigerator. The girls and Alfred would be home soon and she didn't want it to look as if she had done nothing all day, so it was decided, one gourmet dinner ala Barbara coming up.
…
"Ms. Barbara? I was planning on being home in plenty of time…"
"Alfred, I am bored to death and needed something to occupy my time. Besides, you could use a night of relaxation. Why don't you put on something more comfortable?" Barbara peered wryly around the brown bags placed on the counter by the ever-efficient butler. "Do you even have comfortable clothes?" She pulled the bag onto her lap and began emptying the contents into their various spots.
"I suppose I could use a glass of wine after being out there pounding the pavement all day. Though you've done a remarkable job cleaning things up out there, it's still rather disheveled." Alfred emptied the other bag then made his way to the cupboard.
"I am capable of getting you a glass of wine. Just sit down." Surveying the kitchen Barbara predetermined the easiest method for retrieving a glass from the high cupboards. I always did love having an audience for this… Looking back over her shoulder, she noted Alfred's attempt to avert his eyes as not to make her uncomfortable. She then grasped the handles attached to her chair, squeezed the hydraulic levers and was elevated quickly to a standing position. Reason 412 for getting my other chair back in working condition…no circus tricks just to get a glass down. The glasses safely on the counter, she lowered herself back into her chair and took an annoyed breath. "I will allow you to open the bottle. I'm not sure I was ever good at that." Her target clear, she slid the bottle and two glasses over toward Alfred and busied herself with chopping tomatoes.
"You seem to be stronger today Ms. Barbara." He smoothly poured the wine and walked one over to Barbara.
"Glad you're enjoying the show." Barbara's brows gave away her disgust with the comment.
"Just glad to see you getting back to normal." Ignoring Barbara's attempt to make the situation uncomfortable, Alfred loosened his tie and put his coat on the back of his stool.
"Barbara? Are you cooking?" The girls burst through the door seemingly delighted with their day.
"Ummm. I was bored and decided Alfred could use a break."
"So that's a 'yes"? Great! That means Italian and I am so in the mood for Barbara's secret sauce." The girls hung their coats and grabbed a stool next to Alfred and continued discussing their day lightly.
With so much to do, Barbara was able to keep busy and join in with the light conversation, during which she noted the fact that the drug-like buzz was causing her to feel very relaxed, or maybe it was the wine. Whatever the case, Barbara allowed herself to be transported to an almost happy place she hadn't visited in some time.
"Hel? I'll let you get the dishes for me since I have no intension of performing the terribly exciting lift manuveur necessary because you've forced me to use this chair." One by one, Barbara carried items and ontrays to the table with some welcomed help from the others.
"Glad to help. That lift thing makes me a nervous wreck anyway. You seem awfully chipper tonight? Good day in the gym?" Helena passed around the plates and began dishing spaghetti onto hers.
"Ummm yes. Maybe I just haven't had a good bottle of wine in a while, but it was good. I did make a bit of a mess in the gym, lots of pieces."
Again the dinner was left lighthearted and the mood calm and warm.