Chapter Eight
Diana had a restless sleep in her palace bed. It was odd how her home no longer felt like home, just as it was odd to think of her Gods as siblings. Unfortunately, she was no longer comfortable on Themyscira with her people. She got up with the first hint of the sun rising in the sky. After breakfasting on yogurt and honey with a cup of hot jasmine tea, she flew off to the Healing Isle. Thoughts of seeing Kal appealed to her more than spending time with her sisters and mother. Landing gently, she could smell the morning meal being cooked up for Epione, her assistants, and their patients. Diana walked to the kitchen door and entered.
"Princess," said one of the Amazons out of surprise.
She almost dropped the fresh pita bread she was taking out of the oven. Epione took the bread from her apprentice and placed it on the table.
"Your highness," said Epione, as she turned her attention to Diana, "have you come to join us for breakfast?"
"I've eaten already, Epione," she said, as she saw fish and rice being prepared.
"There has been no change in his state, though when I checked him this morning, I noticed a slight betterment of his color. The grayness to skin is fading," Epione told him.
Diana heard this and felt flushed with optimism. If Kal's body would start absorbing the sun then he would heal. Yes, he would heal.
"After breakfast, one of my assistants will be washing him down to make sure he is clean," said Epione. "I find cleanliness assists the healing process."
"No, need, Epione, to bother anyone. I shall take care of Kal and do what needs to be done for him," said Diana.
"Princess, you give a man a bath, I cannot allow that. It is a servants job not your job. He is a man," said Epione in horror.
Diana laughed at this comment causing Epione and her assistant to look at her in horror.
"Epione, I have already given this man a bath and he has given me one and more than once," said Diana.
"I see, Princess," said Epione, who found herself blushing at the thought of her princess bathing a man. Diana had changed greatly since her days in Themyscira.
"Provide me with the water, a bowl, sponge, and some towels, and I'll have washed down by the time you are done with breakfast," she said.
"Yes, Princess," said Epione with disappointment in her voice.
"Epione, I do this not for a man but for someone who is dear to me. If this shocks you, you have my permission to have someone else take care of him," said Diana.
"No, Princess, he is my patient. I shall care for him," Epione answered.
Ceremony of Innocence
Though, she told them that she still was off the roster and Supergirl wasn't going to make any public appearances until Superman was able to appear with her, Kara asked if she could spend some time on the Watchtower. Her reasoning was simple and that she no longer had a home having sold the farm, though both she and Clark still had the money and he had his Fortress of Solitude and she had her Sanctuary, and Diana was going to contact the League first with news about Kal. No one objected, especially with Batman glaring at anyone who even looked to be objecting. J'onn provided Kara with guest passwords and temporary quarters, even though she was staying at Bruce's mansion.
After sleeping at Bruce's she transported up to the Watchtower, and then she made her way into the cafeteria and it was empty. Many of the League were in Japan helping with the search, rescue, and cleanup from a tsunami. Whoever wasn't helping with rescue and clean up in Japan was helping with an earthquake in Turin, Italy, assisting with search, rescue, and cleanup. After settling into the temporary quarters, she got herself a bagel and cream cheese and a coffee and sat down and stared at her plate. Hal walked into the cafeteria. Technically speaking he was no longer assigned to earth, so he also was on the Watchtower as a guest. Hal asked for permission from the Guardians if he could stick around until he heard about Superman's health. He was given permission because they ridden the universe of the terror that was Doomsday. The Guardians gave Hal Jordan and the Lanterns that assisted him a vacation. Hal expected to catch on stories and gossip with the Green Lanterns of Earth, but all the Earth Green Lanterns were involved in the cleanup, except Kyle, who was off-planet.
Hal was dressed in jeans and a dress shirt. He saw Kara and hesitated grabbing a cup of coffee because of the way she kissed him on her ship, but then guilt made him approach her. She looked too alone. He walked up to her.
"Kara, can I join you?" he asked.
"Sure," she said without looking up from her plate, even though it was Hal.
Her blonde hair fell over her face covering most of it. He sat down and noticed that she hadn't touched her coffee or bagel.
"You okay, Kara?"
"I thought when we got here that they would be able to help Clark and get him well, but they couldn't. They have to rely on the Amazons to help him," she said again without looking up at him.
"If anyone can get Clark better it's Diana. Trust in her, Kara," he said then reached over and patted her hand. "She would go to Hades and back for him. She loves him. You have to remember that. Diana loves Clark."
She didn't move. The fact that Diana did love Clark didn't seem to mean anything to Kara at the moment. All she could think of was that the trip away from earth was her wish not Clark's.
"I wanted to leave earth not Clark. I wanted to find somewhere where I could fit in and feel normal," she said.
"Honey, it's not your fault," he said then cringed at the fact he called her honey.
She looked up at him with beautiful sky blue eyes that were filled with tears. Instinctively, he reached across the table and with the thumb of his right hand removed one of those tears. Kara smiled at him. He couldn't let her sulk all day by herself, even though his better instincts were telling him to let her be and give her plenty of room.
"What are you going to do today?" he asked.
"Waiting around here and see if Diana calls in with news," she answered.
Hal sighed. He had intended on having a mini-vacation and go to a couple of action movies that he wanted to see. Plus, OA was not known was its cuisine. He was dying for a cheeseburger and curly fries with a chocolate milkshake. Maybe he could trade off one of the action films for a rom com or chick flick, he thought.
"No, you're not," he said. "I'm going to the movies and then finding a burger joint that serves big, juicy cheeseburgers, curly fries, and milkshakes..."
"I know a place in Smallvile that has the best burgers, curly fries, and milkshakes," Kara said with some life. "One of their burgers is enough to satisfy Clark and it usually takes two or three burgers to fill him up. I think you'd like it there. I can give you directions." "You are coming with me, Kara. Today is on me, my treat, but you have to show me where this burger place is. I am dying for a good burger and milkshake," he said.
"You really want me to come with you?" she asked.
"Kara, I'm asking you to come with me. Now do you have jeans or something you can wear?" Hal asked. "I want to blend in to the crowd not stand out."
"I brought some clothes with me. I just need to get change," she replied excitedly.
"Get changed. I'll let J'onn know that we are going out. We are going to keep low profiles. We'll fly when we have to, but blend in others, not that you blend in easy," he smiled.
She blushed.
"I'll get changed," she said then blurred away leaving Hal alone at the table.
"Okay, this should be... really dangerous," he sighed.
Ceremony of Innocence
Diana had gently and slowly washed Kal down then dried him off. She then put him in a different bed, and lay in on a fresh bed and covered him with a new clean sheet, changed his bed sheets, then laid him back in his bed and covered him with a new sheet. The job was done and Epione entered the room.
"You are right, Epione, his color is better," she said. "This is an excellent sign."
"I am going to start with the healing ray this morning for several hours then in the afternoon expose him to the sun, as you have explained that Apollo powers him," Epione spoke up. "You may leave and I'll call you back this afternoon when we need to move him into the sun."
"I'll stay, Epione. I just want to sit here and watch over him and enjoy the sun myself," she said.
"If that is what you wish, you highness," she said then she set up the healing ray and turned it on.
For the next three hours Diana sat and watched Kal. She couldn't control her mind, as it kept harkening back to the day she made her way to Olympus with the help of Hermes. Zeus had gone into hiding, disappeared without a word, something he did when he wanted to avoid Hera's haranguing. Ares was wanting his father's throne and Hera was too distracted to deal with him. Diana was brought up to battle her half brother in order to restore the balance, and she did. With a sword forged by Hephaestus, she managed to injury the great god of war surprising him. She also managed to anger him.
Ares retaliated by unleashing all he had against Diana. The other god and goddesses feared for her life. Hermes, who always had a soft spot for Diana, left Olympus to fetch Diana's lover, Superman. Even in Olympus they had heard of his strength and abilities. Once Superman arrived his shear power along with Diana's strength and skill overwhelmed Ares. He retreated and Hera noticed how much the lovers care for each other, how much they protected each other in battle. She recognized love when she saw it. She finally seemed to focus on things.
"Diana, Champion of the Amazons and daughter of Zeus, do you wish to save your mother and sisters from their fate?" she asked.
Diana, who was in the arms of a protective Superman, gently separated herself from him. She defiantly stood in front of Hera.
"I would endure any task, suffer any punishment, and even forfeit my life to return my mother and sisters to their normal state," she stated.
"Diana, don't!" yelled Kal. "She is baiting you. Don't trust her."
"Did you mean what you just said, Daughter of Zeus?" asked Hera.
"Diana, please, listen to me," Kal yelled again, but Diana ignored him. She was the champion of all Amazons, so if there was a price to be paid to have them returned to human form, she would pay it.
"I meant ever word of it, Hera, and I keep my word," she answered.
"Excellent. I offer you a compromise. I shall release the Amazons, including your harlot mother, from their punishment in exchange for your love for Superman," offered Hera.
"What do you mean in exchange for my love for Superman?" Diana asked her.
"I mean as of today your mother and sisters return to human form and you shall never be the lover of this Superman again. You shall never find comfort in his bed again or else your mother and sisters return to their punishment," smiled Hera.
Epione came into the room. She turned off the healing ray and check Clark's vitals. Diana's thoughts returned to this plane. She waited patiently to hear the news on Kal.
"His pulse is improving and his breathing is stronger," Epione said.
"Thank Gaea," said Diana.
"I have a divan set up in the sun near the beach. I'll have...," Epione started and Diana cut her off.
"I'll carrying him out to the divan, Epione. He is my... responsibility," said Diana.
"If you say so, Princess," said Epione.
Diana walked over Kal and picked up his larger form in her arms. His sheet was wrapped around his to save him embarrassment. She carried him out to the sunshine and on to the divan and placed him down.
"He is a striking figure, daughter. I can see where you would have your head turned by him," said Hippolyta.
Diana turned to see her mother and General Philippus standing watching her.
"General, mother," she said.
"Epione sent word on how you treat his man and I came to see it for myself," said Hippolyta.
"He is important to me," said Diana.
"But not as important as I and your sisters?" queried Hippolyta.
"Returning you to your human form was my responsibility and duty. Kal helped me defeat Ares and by doing so it led to your return to human form," said Diana. "My love for Kal has not diminished, but I am the Amazons champion. I am not no longer able to be with him. It is the price I had to pay. He understood what I had to do, even though it hurt him greatly."
"Then he is unusually for a male," Hippolyta stated.
Philippus snorted at this statement. Diana knew that her mother and sisters had their reasons for their myopic vision, but she had come to trust many men, such as Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, and more.
"You have met some of comrades and you know they are nothing like Heracles and his men," she said.
"But this one... give him a beard and long hair then put him in a loincloth made from a lion's hide and he is another Heracles," said Hippolyta.
"Trust me, mother, he is no Heracles. He is a greater warrior, stronger, and Kal never forced me to do anything I did not wish to do," she said.
"When he is better I look forward to speaking to him," said Hippolyta.
"What is that hanging around his neck and laying on his chest?" asked Philippus.
"It is a shield with the symbol of his family," Diana told her. "It is also the vessel that holds his armor."
"You lie," replied Philippus. "There is no way armor can fit into that shield."
"His armor is made of of something called nano-technology. When released these nano-bots shape themselves around his body and forms his armor, boots, and cape," Diana told her.
"Fantastic," retorted Philippus in disbelief. "It sounds like magic to me."
"Kal hates magic. It is science."
"It is hard to believe, General," said Hippolyta.
"Diana," a whisper came from Clark.
The three women stopped speaking and turned and looked at Kal. He moaned and then again whispered, "Diana."
Diana moved quickly to his side, knelt beside the divan, and took his right hand in her hands.
"I'm here, Kal," she said.
"Diana," he whispered.
Hippolyta turned to Philippus, "Get Epione."
Philippus turned and went back to find Epione, while Hippolyta watched her daughter care for a man, a super man. It was an offensive man, yet the man who bore it had stolen her daughter's heart. She needed to get to know him.
"Kal, I won't leave you. I'm here."
"Love...Diana. Return to earth," he mumbled and went silence.
Epione came running. She moved Diana aside and started to check on Kal. Diana stood up, but she didn't move away. She was not leaving him. Epione looked up at her.
"His breathing and pulse are much stronger. The sun along with the healing ray are working on him. I would think in a matter of days he'll open his eyes and be coherent," she told her.
Diana took a deep breath and exhaled, "Thank Gaea."
Ceremony of Innocence
"I'm going rip Jordan another asshole for this. Damned playboy of the galaxy," growled Bruce Wayne as he arrived at the penthouse.
Selina had let him into the penthouse and immediately saw that he was in a sour mood. It brought a smile to her. He was easy to tease when he was in one of these moods.
"What is wrong, Bruce? You appear to be upset."
"Hal Jordan took Kara out for a movie date and they aren't back yet. I checked on her after a board meeting and J'onn told me they had left. They still aren't back from their little date, either. I said that already, didn't I? God knows what he is up to with her," he growled.
"He probably is just being kind to her. She's a little lost puppy without her cousin around. He is distracting her somehow. Maybe he has taken her to tea after seeing a movie," said Selina.
"Jordan is a heart breaker. I bet he is distracting her. He's distracted a lot of women in his life," Bruce said.
"He's okay to look at but a heart breaker, Bruce," teased Selina. "Anyway, you've distracted your share of women, also. I wouldn't throw batarangs at glass houses."
Bruce walked passed Selina and into the den of the penthouse. She followed him. He walked over to the desk, clicked the desk lamp button four times quickly and then twice slowly, and then watched as the bookcase opened to reveal an elevator. Selina shook her head.
"Let me guess where that goes – a backup Batcave," she said.
"An emergency facility built under the sub-level of this building. I used this when the mansion was being refurbished," he told her.
"And what are you going to do, Bruce, dress up as Batman and go searching for her?" she asked.
"I'm going to find her, Selina. It's what I do. I don't wait at home; I take action," said Bruce.
"Let me get on my late night wear, so that I can go with you," she said.
"You don't have to come with me," he said.
"Bruce, I like Kara and it's fun watching you play Uncle Bruce," she said. "Anyway, if Jordan has acted in a way to take advantage of her, he's going to feel my claws."
Bruce smiled, "Suit up."
Ceremony of Innocence
The movies were fun, even the rom com he let Kara pick out. The only bad thing about the rom com was the Scottish actor in it couldn't do a believable American accent. Hal thought he should stick to killing Persians as a Spartan. Now he found himself sitting in a booth across from Kara and eating the best damned cheeseburger, curly fries, and thick chocolate milkshake he'd ever had in his life. Smallville was off the map, but the diner was damned worth it. Kara smiled at him.
"Thanks for today, Hal," she said. "I really had a great time with the movies and all."
"My pleasure, Kara," he replied. "You're good company."
"Hal," she started to speak then hesitated.
"What is it, Kara?" he asked her.
"I'm embarrassed to ask you this."
"Kara, go on and ask me anything."
"Do you think I'm attractive?" asked him.
Suddenly, Hal wished he was on the other side of the galaxy facing an army of Doomdays. How was he going to answer this one? He took a deep breath and decided on the truth.
"Kara, you beautiful. I mean it, too. You are no longer just an attractive teen, but you have become a beautiful young woman and I've seen a lot of women throughout the galaxy. You Kryptonians have amazing genes," he said.
Her smile was incandescent. He looked down at his plate. There was a bite left of his burger and a few curly fries, but he was stuffed. It was time to get back to the Watchtower.
"Let's say I pay the bill and we head back to the Watchtower?" he asked. "We can see if there is news on Clark."
"I'd like that."
Hal paid then they left. Once they were out of town and no one would noticed, he had his ring dress him in his Green Lantern uniform and she released her Supergirl uniform. They were ready to return to the Watchtower. Hal used his comm.
"J'onn, old buddy, you there."
"I am here."
"Transport us up."
"Consider it done."
Before the transporter could take effect, Kara looked at Hal and decided she wanted to thank him properly.
"Hal," she said.
"Yeah," he said then looked at her.
She grabbed the front of his uniform and pulled him into a deep passionate kiss. At first he struggled at against it then he found his tongue was playing tongue hockey with Kara's and then the tingle of the transporter kicked in. Oh, damn, he thought.
As they materialized they were still in the middle of a deep passionate kiss. Hal knew this wasn't going to end well.
"You son of bitch," he heard the growl of Batman.
Bruce pulled him away from Kara, spun him around, and met Hal Jordan's jaw with a perfect right. Hal saw stars then everything went blank.