digi-gal-rox: it's been a while since i last updated this story. those who've been waiting, i apologise that it's taken me this long. i've been so wrapped up in my studies as well as focusing on new stories... but no fear, this story is near it's end, so yea!! happy readings!


CHAPTER 8

She stepped forward slowly. The villain laughed insanely, before pulling the trigger. She gasped loudly as her body was thrown back, hitting the wall hard. Green Arrow, Black Canary and Huntress burst into the room tackling the man to the floor.
"I'll check on her!" Black Canary cried out, running towards the fallen hero. Oracle smiled weakly at the blonde woman, who was now pressing on her wound.
"Don't." Oracle mumbled.
"Barbara, don't be like this." she said roughly. Barbara slowly pulled off her eye mask and bandana. She could see the tears falling from the woman's eyes. She smiled weakly.
"It's already too late for me." she said softly. Coughing roughly, she saw Danny running towards her, desperately. The red-head closed her eyes for a moment, breathing heavily, as the rest of the League Members came in.
"Oh god." she heard Star Girl breathe.
"Don't die on us, Barbara!" Danny cried out.
"I want to see them again." she said softly. "I want to see Mary one more...time."

"Bring her in." cutting the line, the younger man starred at the family that stood behind him. Shaking his head, Mary was the first to break down. Nightwing looked at them confused.
"What was he talking about?" he asked, as James comforted the child. Ben bit his lip nervously before walking away,
"Ben! I asked you a question, damn it!"
"Answer mine first." Ben hissed. "Why didn't you return?" Nightwing narrowed his eyes. "If you don't answer that, than answer this." Ben turned to face him. "Why?"

"Where do you see yourself in the future?" the twelve year old asked. The fourteen year old grinned.
"Married." the fourteen year old shrugged. The twelve year old giggled.
"Married to Cindy?" he coughed.
"Cindy?"
"I know you're going out with her. Alfred told me." he coughed again.
"You've got to stop listening to him, Babs." she rolled her eyes.
"I see you together, Dick." he shook his head slightly.
"That doesn't mean I'll be with her forever."

She opened her eyes slowly, to see her father crying in the corner. Mary was at her side, silently crying in her sleep. But they couldn't see her. She knew why everyone was upset. She starred at her lifeless body, as her friends silently bid their farewell. She noticed a familiar figure among them. She stopped. She could see pain written all over his face. She even noticed that he was wearing the necklace he had given her, eons ago. The very same one she angrily through back. She turned around slightly to see four familiar figures smiling at her. Her mother, Alfred Pennyworth, Tim Drake and Bruce Wayne. Her mother raised her arm, gesturing her daughter to follow them. She glanced back at her motionless body, as the EP continued to 'beep' on. She looked back at them, and smiled, shaking her head slightly.
"I can't." her voice echoed. "Mary needs me. And so does Ben." the four looked at each other and nodded. "I'll miss all of you." than everything went white.

"What's going on?!" Mary demanded as Leslie checked on her mother's vital signs.
"I'm not sure," Leslie admitted. She began to flat line.
"Mum!" Mary cried out, as James held her back.
"Sarah, help me here." Leslie ordered. "Beginning CPR. Ben, bring the crash cart here. Now!" Ben took off. Dick glanced at the other man, Danny who paced up and down, worriedly.
"Who-?" he started.
"Danny. Danny Mika." he quickly introduced himself, "You must be the man who broke her heart." Dick narrowed his eyes slightly. "I'm a friend of hers."
"Not responding," Leslie breathed, as Ben burst into the room with the crash cart. "40 volts."
"Mum!" Mary wailed, "Don't leave, please don't leave me!"

"Who are you?" she asked, looking around the dense forest. The white figure merely smiled.
"Your time is merely up and yet you choose to stay?"
"You..." she murmured.
"You can't fight destiny, Oracle." she shook her head violently. "This is your time."
"I can't leave her. She needs me." the figure paused.
"There maybe a way," she looked at him desperately.
"What is it?"
"He has to come."
"No," she shook her head, "There has to be another way." the white figure's feature's softened.
"I'm afraid there isn't." the figure apologised.
"MUM!" Mary's voice echoed, "DON'T LEAVE! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" biting her lip nervously, she observed the world she was in.
"What is this place?"
"Your mind." the figure responded. "And no, once he saves you, you don't have to stay with him." she hesitated.
"O.K." she finally said.

"She's back." Leslie sighed in relief. Mary held onto her mother's hand tightly, tears still streaming down. Dick found himself also smiling in relief.
"She will be all right, right?" James asked worriedly. "I can't loose her." Sarah patted her husband gently. "Her mother already left us. I can't stand the thought of loosing her as well." the old man shakingly sat down.
"Leslie, is there any other way we can save her?" Dick asked quietly.
"You'd better stay away from her," James warned, "And to think I let you back into her life, after what you've done, after-"
"James," Sarah scowled. Shaking his head, James could only stare at his daughter, pain written all over his face.
"Richard, I think it's best if you just leave the room," Leslie said quietly. Grumbling to himself, Dick did so.

"Dick! What are you doing here?" she asked, letting him in through the window.
"Escaping from Bruce." he grinned sheepishly. She shook her head.
"What did you do this time?"
"Well... you could say that I 'accidentally' set fire to the new car."
"Dick!" she cried out. He smiled at her. "Now you're gonna get me into trouble!" he chuckled. "And you couldn't hide out at Cindy's?"
"You know we've broken up, Babs." he paused, "There's also another reason I'm here."
"oh?" she glared at him.
"Wouldyougooutwithme?"
"Huh?" she looked at him.
"Would you... like to catch a movie sometime?"
"Are you asking me out on a date, Grayson?" she looked at him warily, before scanning the room. "There's a camera here isn't there?"
"No, I'm serious!" he exclaimed. "I'm really serious." she looked at him sceptical.
"Prove it." she challenged. He grinned.

"What do I have to do?" she asked, as the figure led her to a small garden. "Wow." she breathed. The figure looked at her.
"All you have to do is wait." without another word he disappeared.
"Wait? Great. Just great." she muttered. She noticed there were several mirrors around the garden. She groaned inwardly, as she felt her heart beginning to ache. What were these?

© Copyright 2008 digi-gal-rox (FanFiction ID:542420). All rights reserved. Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of digi-gal-rox.


digi-gal-rox: that's it for now!