QUOTE OF THE DAY: "you never find yourself until you face the truth", Pearl Bailey.
SOUTH DAKOTA
WILD LIFE PARK
THURSDAY 1PM
William came inside the car and handed a bottle of juice to his son Shaun. He placed one hand on his shoulder and sighed deeply, "What's wrong Dad…."
"I need to tell you something", William said while looking straight ahead.
"What is it?", Shaun asked confused.
"Something has happened ….i just saw it on TV….I called …I tried to get information….", he declared sadly.
"Information about what?...What's going on?"
"Your brother might be hurt….there was a bombing in their school…They say that they are taking injured children to the two hospitals….", Shaun just keep on staring at his dad, "I need you to be brave kid….I packed your back pack with fruits and other things okay….you are going to check one hospital and I am going to another…Okay Shaun…."
LINE B REAK LINE BREAK
"I got her, guys….", Wally patted at the shoulder of the paramedics assisting Zatanna getting out of ambulance, "Thanks…", he appreciated them once again and passed a concerned look to Zatanna.
"I am okay…Wally….Seriously…I am fine….", Zatanna answered with a small smile on her face while fuddling with the bandage now covering her head.
"Yeah…that say otherwise…", Wally lightly touched the bandage on her head resulting in Zatanna letting out a loud Ouch…, "Sorry…"
"For what ….you did jumped over me to save me…Wally", she chided him.
"Yeah and you still manage to get yourself hurt….I wasn't fast enough…that seems to be happening a lot these days….", Wally answered with the shake of his head.
"Hey…..stop it ….okay", Zatanna glared at him and sighed, "How are the kids….", She asked while observing the herd of the children, few were crying, friends were hugging each other,…it was chaotic… the bus filled with zeal and zest before is also now silently standing by blackened because of blaze.
"Terrified….to say the least….Think we can get something out of Paul…", He asked while observing a pale looking kid talking to his friend.
"We have to try…"
"But before that…Please take her to the nearest hospital", Wally ordered the nearby policeman.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"How come I am pulled over here while the rest of my class is over there?", Paul asked with a confused expression on his face.
"I just need to ask you few questions …is that okay…", Wally asked with a smile as he came to stand right beside him and also leaned over the car as the kid was. Paul spared one glance towards his classmate and nodded. "Did you pack your own book bag this morning?", Wally asked after a while.
"I don't understand…", Paul said nervously.
"I just need to know that do you packed your book pack or not… please buddy", Wally asked once again.
"My dad usually set things out for us….Please what's going on?", he answered still confused.
Wally sighed before continuing, "the bomb that went off in the bus ….it was in your bag pack…we think your dad might put it there….."
"That's crazy…You are wrong", he nearly shouted at Wally.
"I wish I was kid but I am not….", Wally sighed and continued, "Look I know it's a lot to take in….but we need your help buddy…Your dad is not in your house…and we need your help figuring out where he might be…Please kid…help us out here"
"This is insane…", Paul took an offensive stance. At the same moment, Richard's car pulled over near the police car they were leaning on and an elderly woman of 62 came out of it. Paul shouted instantly as he saw the woman, "Aunt Rose.…tell them it's not true….they got it wrong". Richard spared a remorseful glance towards the Kid and also come to stand behind the woman with Black shades now folded in his hands.
The woman hugged him with all her might and answered after a while, "I am trying to understand it all too", Paul just helplessly kept staring at her Aunt.
"We need your help …Paul", Wally declared averting Paul's attention to himself.
"But I don't know anything", He pleaded with them.
Richard bent down at his level and said with a straight face, "Our job, what we do mostly, is to study the way people act, because there are clues in everything we do, even when we don't realize it…."
"Well…my dad couldn't have done this…", Paul interrupted Richard in a stern voice.
"But he was sad wasn't he?...", Paul couldn't keep an eye contact on that and Richard continued knowing way too well that he is right, "and sometimes when people are sad they do things…..which they normally wouldn't do…"
"Was he acting more affectionate lately….giving you all gifts…", Wally also piped in while placing a hand on his shoulder as Paul started crying on that, "is he reading you guys a book…which you want us to tell about….", he sighed once again and asked gently, "What is it….Paul"
He stopped crying and took a deep breath to compose himself, "A few nights ago….", he pulled a key chain with an infinity symbol on it from his pants pocket, "he ….he gave us these key chains…and said that a circle went on forever and ever, like the way he loved us, ….and the beauty of infinity is ….everything ends where it begins…"
Richard smiled at him and said, "Thanks…buddy….you did real god...okay…you are going to stay with your aunt rose…we will be back", Her Aunt enveloped him in the hug as Wally and Richard moved away from them.
"Did you find anything in his house…?", Wally asked anxiously .
"Only his trigger….His wife died two years back while giving birth to their fourth brother…the kid also died shortly…He is a family annihilator ….thinks that he made a mistake of bringing his son in this world….so he is eliminating them…saving them from suffering", Richard answered elaborately, "Paul said everything ends where it begins ….Could he be going to the hospital where all that happens….where his wife died"
"And which hospital is that…"
"Fredericksburg Memorial …", Richard answered while looking into William Meek's file.
"Shit that's where Zatanna and Kaldur are…."
"Damn it…"
LINE BREAK…..LINE BREAK
WASHINGTON, DC
MEGAN'S CAR
THURSDAY, 1:00 PM
"I don't know about your boy problems but I know one thing ….you are not getting enough veggies….Your diet is way out of balance….Don't you get tired of eating sack dinners….. I threw out two days old pasta today out of your fridge….", Megan said while pouting as she glared at the person sitting beside her while driving the car, "So today I am gonna fix that I am going to make you this nutritiously balanced combination of salted and ash baked celeriac with foraged sel fou…", Megan ended her rant with a smile but get disappointed once again as she found Artemis just looking outside the window in the deep thought, "Artemis….hey….", she jerked her hand to get her attention which immediately worked as Artemis gave her an irritated look.
"What….", She asked with disinterest, "and why are we stopping at the Mall"
"Ugh I hate it when you do that…Try to stay in the world of living for a while…you introvert", Artemis only replied with a non-understanding expression on her face to whom Megan answered with the shake of her head, "I just announced that we are not having sack dinner tonight….Tonight we eat like the higher middle class to which we aspire….tonight we eat to get fat… so whach you say Rapunzel….ready to dig in some veggies…", Megan explained while making a yo sign at the end.
"Well…my friend Snow white was poisoned by an apple, my ninja boyfriend, Jack, he found a giant in his beanstalk and look what happened when Alice ate the mushroom….so no, I am not ready…", Artemis answered with a smile just to get under her skin.
"Ah…I feel like I am babysitting a five year old spoiled brat…Compliments to your mom for bringing you up…I can't imagine what she would have gone through to make you this jumbo sized idiot….", Megan said with a smile looking into her hand bag not noticing the horrified look on Artemis face with the mention of word mom. "Any way…For real …Arty…. celeriac and sel fou….please", Megan literally pleaded with her.
"Yeah ….yeah…do whatever you want… besides you are the best chef I know…", Artemis said with a smile to cover up her inner anxiety and looked away from her.
"Why thank you…Arty...now you are embarrassing me…BTW You are quite the chef yourself…but you are just lazy to begin with", Megan said with a smile while opening the side door of her car, "So, I am gonna get some groceries …you need to watch out for my car…Corner will kill me if his car get scratched….and don't get lost in creamy thoughts of your boyfriend…when I am gone", Megan screamed while waving her goodbye resulting Artemis abruptly answering at the same pitch as hers.
"He is not my boyfriend…..", she cried out resulting all the passing by people giving her odd looks. Great now they all think I am crazy, she muttered to herself.
"Whatever helps you dream at night…My dear", was the only response she gets.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Someone opening up the car door brought Artemis out of her trance, "Nice wheels…and Nice friends…Almost made me believe you deserve this sound life after what you have done…..", Lawrence said with a predatory smile on his face. His face was half hid under the cap and he was wearing his casual white tee with blue pants, "Almost.."
Artemis breath got stuck in her throat as she nearly chocked out, "D…a…d…"
Lawrence smiled once again, "huh…little girl…if you want to stay alive then don't call me that….You know what happens when you start getting on my nerves…I hope for your sake you haven't forgotten that…". He straightened up and released a sigh without making eye contact with her. Artemis just becomes frozen on her seat as he continued afterwards, "Enlighten me though why do you think you get a free pass…you are a filthy murderer ….why can't you just die…. little girl…Aren't you sick with taking other's lives already….", For the first time Artemis detected sorrow in his father's voice and it unnerved her. She had always thought that his father was incapable of feeling anything.
"Dad…I am sorry….I didn't ….meant for mom to get hurt…i….i didn't… i…", Once again Artemis found herself drowning with guilt. Lawrence smirked and brought out a gun from his pants.
"You are a fool…you can't change who you are kid…. You are sick with sins…you didn't even deny that you are not a murderer ….not even in your reveries…you are just accepting it…", He smiles and gently handed her the gun, "No amount of good will you possess would change the past…don't you think you deserve to be punished…"
"What are you doing…", Artemis asked while staring at the gun now residing in her shaking hands.
"Use it on yourself…", he gently folded her hands around the weapon and help her in holding the gun over her own head, "don't worry…I know Dinah teach you the handling of this weapon…and it shouldn't be hard for you…after all you had use it over Paula once…your death is your retribution…little girl…your redemption awaits you….what else…do you want from life other than that", Lawrence smiled once again and kissed her on the forehead with fatherly affection and help her pull the trigger on herself.
BANG….Artemis become awake with a gasp. "Oooopppsss….Sorry didn't mean to scare you…", Megan declared with a smile and put the shopping bags on the back seats as Artemis tried to regulate her breathing, "You alright….you are looking a bit pale…", Megan acquired concernedly.
"Yeah…I am …I am fine….", Artemis said in a shaky voice, "let's just get home I am tired and my leg is hurting like hell…", Artemis responded this time in more composed voice than before.
"yeah…sure", Megan reluctantly agreed with her not believing a word coming out of her mouth, "what's eating you up….don't lie I can tell from the look on your ugly mug…", Megan asked after a while, "and if you say Wally I am gonna punch you in the head…", she declared with a straight face.
"You should stop saying his name around me….i friend zoned him remember…", Artemis said while playing with her necklace again hoping that discussing Wally would keep her distracted for a while, "and he probably hates me now like everyone else….i did left him hanging in there…you know"
"Ugh…Arty…I highly doubt that….he seemed like a nice and elegant guy.. he will forgive you...probably…but you should come up with the pretty amazing thank you sort of a thing…he did kind of a took care of you when you needed it….", Megan answered happily thinking that she finally did get something out of her, "And you know what… you could just straight out tell him and revel in the awesomeness of the truth that you are freaking mad and are scarred of kisses and hugs…he will get it", she added as an afterthought.
"Shut up Meg….", Instantly she got a glare from Artemis in return.
"Okay….Bad idea….", Megan answered playfully but also noticed her depressing mood, "hey don't worry…we will get through this…", she punched her lightly in the shoulder and continued, "Come on…if he didn't forgive you… then …I will chain him to the bed myself and gonna feed him the live mice as punishment…", Artemis smiled at her and rested her head on Meg's shoulder, "I am serious …you know we had a wolf once….i could do it.."
"Stop soccer mom…ing me…", Artemis said as she closed her eyes again.
"Fine…Ahh…Great ….now you are passed out on me ….again….."
"BTW Meg how would you like to prepare a dinner with me for someone…. who let me be very clear is not my boyfriend..."
"Now we are talking…"
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
SOUTH DAKOTA
FREDRICKSBERG HOSPITAL
THURSDAY, 1:15 PM
"Kaldur….are you eating MacDonald fries…", Kaldur just shrugged and smiled at Zatanna who glared at him even more while standing at the door of his room, "You are not supposed to eat the fries especially the MacDonald ones…"
"Zee…I carry the lethal weapon ….if I want the MacDonald fries …I will have the MacDonald fries….", Kaldur explained innocently while keeps on eating the fries.
"Wow you have a sense of humor I didn't know that", she declared while putting her hands up in surrender as she started walking towards his bed.
"Well it is reserved for special occasions…", Kaldur answered with self-pity which Zatanna chose to ignore. He was covered in bandages; one long bandage was covering his left shoulder which was covered downwards with another round bandage covering his whole stomach. There were scratches and stiches everywhere. Doctor said he was lucky that he didn't break any bones but his wounds were quite deep.
"….BTW…if you think that your gun is gonna help your argument sound legitimate …you are dead wrong", She smiled and come to sit at the end of his bed. Kaldur smiled at her again and presented fries to her too, which she gladly accepted with glee.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"This is control center…Unit one …do you copy?", the radio in the car come alive with the cackle, Richard instantly reached out for it and answered, "unit one here….go ahead"
"We got a possible high speed chase going on the South Dakota Highway…The suspect is identified to be the William Meek…They police cars are in pursuit and converging them to the abandoned sand hill Station…awaiting for your orders…Sir"
"Shouldn't he be going to the Hospital…Damn it…What are we missing?", Wally shouted at no one in particular and banged his hand on the dashboard letting his anger out while Richard just halted the car on the side line and said over the radio.
"Unit Three and Unit four… change in plans…en route towards the Highway right now…Wally is in charge he will be heading the stakeout…Don't proceed without the further orders….Corner you and unit two …we are going to the hospital…and keeps your suits ready…we are going to need them", he turned down the radio and looked towards Wally, "William never intended to kill himself that's why there were three crosses on the Baptism site not four….he is just toying with us…Get him for me will you?", Richard said and got out from the car as Wally nodded in determination as an answer. "And Wally… Don't do anything reckless just because…Zatanna or Kaldur is hurt…Only do that if it is a necessity…."
"How do you always know what I am thinking…", Wally asked with a smile and tiredly shuffled a hand through his hair.
"I am your best friend bro…..Remember….besides that is exactly the same thing I am thinking right now". Another black SUV came to halt right in front of him and he quickly got into the car as both the cars drove away to different destinations moment later.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
And in other news, the explosion today has rocked the South Dakota High School. It happened at around 8 AM in morning. The numbers of casualties are unknown at this time. Zatanna spared a glance towards the TV embedded on the wall behind the reception desk of the Hospital and keeps on reading Kaldur's file. "Madam you can't see the patient's file….", The nurse standing on the reception said to Zatanna in an offensive tone.
Zatanna passed her an undifferentiated look and waved the badge, "I think I can", she said with a smile and muttered to herself you are a bad influence Kaldur. A blonde boy with a bag pack came to stand right beside her and called out the receptionist, "Excuse me ….Excuse me…My name is Shaun Meeks and I am looking for my brothers Ryan and Paul Meeks….", Zatanna and the receptionist looked at him wide eyed and at the same time her com came alive and Richard's urgent voice sounded in her ear, "Zee….you need to start evacuating the hospital…Shaun Meeks is coming there with a bomb". The report going on the TV caught the attention of the boy.
It is being confirmed by the reliable sources that Ryan William has unwillingly carried the bomb to the school planted by his father, William Meeks. The third son, Shaun Meeks, is also unaccounted for at this moment. Police are asking anyone with any information to contact them immediately. Shaun looked around while having difficulty in grasping for what he has just heard. He literally started hyperventilating when he saw the badge in the Zatanna's hand and the butt of the revolver sticking out of her jacket.
Zatanna sighed and looked towards the scarred boy standing in front of him, "he is already here….Dick"
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"We had him cornered…he said he has bomb…and he hasn't fired a single shot… just standing there like a maniac", the Police officer declared while hiding behind the car door and pointing his gun towards William who was standing in the middle of the road with the gun in his hand and with suicide jacket on. "Fall back up to 75 feet just in case he is actually rigged….i am taking it from here...", Wally glared at the man in front of him and shouted out his name, "William Meeks"
"Don't come any closer….", the psycho said with a smile.
"Really you think I am buying that…you don't wanna die here William….you want your message out….That's why there were three crosses in the woods not four", Wally declared while casually moving towards him. He stopped just five steps away from him and pointed his gun towards him, "So don't force my hand William it will be a bad choice…Trust me nothing will give me more pleasure then to just end this madness right now"
William smiled at closed his eyes and answered, "it was unfair of me to ever bring them into this world….but the fate has its ways…."
"They are your Sons, William and it's done", Wally shouted angrily.
"I know…", he answered remorsefully, "that is why…it has to end…for the fresh start…Can't you see… it is an end of the road….every things ends where it begins", he pointed the gun towards Wally and smiled, "What better way to get my message out than this….",he smiled once again and placed his own gun below his neck, Wally sprinted forward but he was too late as William pulled the trigger on himself and his blood showered over the wally like the rain, the little confetti from the William's body and Wally only become successful in catching his falling body and slowly lowering it to the ground.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Shaun started backing out from Zatanna but froze again as he saw two more police officers entering from the hospital entrance gate having their hands on the gun holster. "hey kid…easy there…",Zatanna called him out but before she could say anything more,the two police officers tried to grab him by the hand as Shaun clenched on to the bag pack tighter in fear. "Let him go…let him go…", Zatanna ordered the police officers who were there to escort her to the hospital who reluctantly agreed to her in the end, "I know you are scared to death right now…but Shaun is there a bomb in your bag pack?"
Shaun looked towards her and said in a small voice, "he said my brothers were in there…..he said…", he muttered in a confused voice.
"Hey …listen to me…kid…listen to me", Zatanna started taking calculated step towards him.
"He said they were hurt… he said they needed me…", Shaun kept on muttering in disbelief as Zatanna approached him and placed a hand over his hand.
"Can I see the bag….Kid…", Shaun stopped hyperventilating and said with a tone of finality.
"He sent me in here to die….", His hold on the bag pack slackened and Zatanna carefully took the bag pack from him, "he sent me here to die…"
"This is not about you Shaun….this is not about you….at all", she unzips the bag and peeked inside, the bomb with the timer of five minutes was in there gawking back at her while surrounded with the sea of wires. Zatanna secure a one glimpse of the surrounding and let out a deep sigh. She turned on her com and said while nodding towards the police officers who took the kid away, "Richard the bomb is set on the timer of five minutes….we can't evacuate the hospital in such short time…so change of plans… I am coming towards you guys….", Zatanna started running towards the car. Before Richard could reply the cam's frequency went haywire as they all screamed in pain but as soon as it comes it was gone.
"What was that?...", Zatanna nearly shouted in the com as she opened the car door and toss the bomb in the adjacent seat.
"We are hacked….i guess…Shit we are really hacked…..", Richard said while typing furiously over the computer as Corner who was driving the car suddenly become more interested in the conversation.
"What you got….Martian….?...", He casually asked over the com as the robotic female voice answered it for him.
"Get out of the hospital, the maternity ward have oxygen main, if that room is in the blast radius then it's all over…."
"We are already out from hospital, any deserted location you can give to us right now will be highly appreciated ….babes", Wally also contributed from his side and Richard did a face palm on himself at his justification, "What….that robotic voice is sexy…plus it's female"
"What you got M…?", Corner asked again ignoring Wally's jab.
"2km from your spot Miss. Zatanna ….Turn left from the incoming junction", the voice announced yet again.
"How come she answers to you and not to me…", Wally interrupted yet again.
"Richard….?", Zatanna called him out as for asking the permission from him that whether she should follow it or not.
"Great….now everybody is ignoring me", they all shouted Wally at the same time shutting him up effectively.
"Go with it…zee….Martian is on our side", Richard passes Corner a strange smile and turned off his laptop.
"you are almost there…there is an abandoned ware house from the steel company there…it's pure steel and the building can withstand the blast….plus there are no sign of any human in 150 feet radius from there…..though you are still strictly advised to drive out of there as quickly as possible…Miss. Zatanna"
"Drop the miss will you….Martian", Zatanna said as she threw the bag pack in the warehouse and drove away from there, "no need to be formal….you are saving my life…here", She drove for a little bit and then parked the car at the side line.
"Alright….it was nice meeting you all….Martian signing off….", the voice cackled alive once again and as soon she finished the com's frequency went haywire for a moment once again.
"I hate it when you do that…Martian", Corner said over com to no one in particular.At the same time Richard and Corner also reached there and stopped the car right beside the car of Zatanna. Richard was first one to get off the car as he quickly engulfs Zatanna in to a hug.
"One hell of a pre date…wouldn't you agree", he whispered in her ear.
"Sure it is…", the bomb went off some distance as they all watched the building getting rocket for a while then settling down after a moment.
"At least it's over before Friday…", Richard said in sultry voice putting emphasis on Friday while hugging her once again.
"Now you are talking...and please keep on talking …I am liking the way it sounds", Zatanna answered in the same tone as him.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Richard removed the shades and remorsefully looked towards the two brothers who were hugging each other tightly. He sighed and placed his travel bag into the car and shut the hood. He wanted to just walk away from them but at the final moment decided against it. "I got that out of the evidence box….thought you guys might want to have it", He pulled out the keychain with an infinity symbol and gave it to them. Thanks to Zatanna that keychain was not smeared in the blood anymore as it was when he pulled it off from William Meek's body. Paul took the keychain from him and said in a small voice.
"This is all her fault….Why did she have to die?", Richard sighed once again and bent down to his level.
"You mean your mother…", he asked just to be confirmed.
"That's why all this is happening….why didn't we died…", Shaun answered for him this time.
"it's not your mother's fault….neither it's your fault….you guys have to know that…your father told you the story of Ibrahim and Isaac right….do you remember what happens in the end?", he asked with a small smile.
"At the last second ….the angel steps in and stop Ibrahim from sacrificing his son", Paul answered with a nod.
Richard smiled and placed hands over the kids shoulders, "that's why you guys are alive….God never intended for the boy to die….You guys have a second chance now…and trust me when I tell you this…you can do whatever you want with it", Both kid nodded in a bit of understanding and Richard started moving away from them as he saw their Aunt Rose coming towards them.
"Do you believe in angles?", Shaun asked in a questioning tone to Richard. At the same time, Zatanna come out of the PD and threw her travel bag towards him which he catched with a smile of his own. Richard gave one look to Zatanna and answered to Paul in the firm voice, "I do…I really do…"
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"Oh come on man, you are hopeless…..you can't take her into the liquor store on the first date…", Richard said with a smile, "Artemis is never gonna like it"
"What who said anything about Artemis man and Why not…..Jinx drink like a dude seriously", Wally said while relaxing in the car as Richard passed him a perplexed look.
"You said you are gonna have the sexy lady by your side on Friday….I assume it would be Artemis….Since she is all you ever talk about…though all bad things but seriously…..You are not serious about going on a date with this Jinx girl or whatever right", he said while taking a turn and getting on the road towards the airport.
"I am serious dude…and I am taking her to liquor store…she might think it's an awesome idea", Wally replied with a serious face.
Richard shuffled a hand through his hair, "In that case….Don't do it…she will think you are lame"
"Then I will take her to the Fat burgers or the OPTP restaurant"
"Wally…you don't take smart girls to the places called fat burgers…", Richard said with a smile but questioned in the end, "She is smart….right", Wally huffed and took out his phone. He opened a photo of a brunette in the black top and white jeans.
"See for yourself….", he said with a big smile, "besides she is pretty good in bed too….what more you can ask for …right", Wally said with a big smile.
Richard answered in the undifferentiated tone, "yeah…she is a hottie….But Artemis is way hotter….", Wally glared at him in response.
"Will both you and Zatanna stop teasing me….you know it's not like that…."
"I know what it is like that is why I am telling you….You are in denial"
"I am not in denial….Jinx is the woman I want to be with….She is way cooler and hotter than Artemis and I am going out with her on the weekend…Alright….I am not gonna hung up on a woman who clearly doesn't think of me anything more than a friend", Wally responded getting agitated by the second.
"You are making out with the other woman the same night you kissed Artemis….One way to say you are actually wanted to have any commitment with her….", Richard answered sarcastically in the same tone, "look wally….you are gonna end up hurting everyone if you keep on doing that…"
"Don't you get it…She rejected me…dude…So practically she doesn't have any reason to get hurt"
"See you are giving priority to Artemis right now over Jinx… that's means you are not over her dude…."
"Stop profiling me…"
"Fine….then think about jinx if you are not gonna be sincere… you are gonna end up hurting her….I get it you are lying to me about Artemis…At least stop lying to yourself …dude"
"You want me to not lie…Fine…here is the ugly truth…I don't want you to tell me what to do…and I am never discussing anything related to Artemis with you ever again….how is that for a sincerity Grayson", Wally become red in anger.
"Fine with me…we are almost here….Good luck on a date dude", Richard said in the dejected tone as Wally released a tired sigh and left the car in a hurry but become surprised as he saw two jets on the runway.
"Is it just me sleepy or are there two jets on the runway…."
"One is for you, Kaldur and Corner while the other one is for me and Zee…and dude that is how you take someone on a first date….", Richard answered with a smile.
"Shitty billionaire asshole"
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
WASHINGTON DC
ARTEMIS'S APARTMENT
THURSDAY, 7:00 PM
Artemis splashed water on her face for the hundredth time in the same day and looked in the bathroom mirror. She cleaned the mirror off the fog that has been there because of her recent hot bath. For a moment the masked man reappear behind her, she smiled in self-pity and held her bath towel around her even more tightly. She waited for him to disappear but instead of disappearing like always he took a step towards her. Artemis just kept on staring as the reaper took another step towards her. He come to stand right behind her and drew up a knife. Artemis could feel the chills in her spine as Reaper put his free hand around her naked shoulder and Reaper placed his head behind her head, she felt the rough surface of the mask against her skull. A loud knock on the door brought her back in the reality and Reaper disappeared behind her. She sighed once again, "Arty …your dad is here….and he brought liquor…I am feeling so jealous right now…I want Dad like yours…. ….Come out …will you….or I will snatch your dad from you…..forget about it… that came out wrong…very wrong …..Hurry up…..you lazy prick"
"Just a sec"
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"The 75 Brunello di Montalcino…..your neighbor, Hunter, has quite a taste in wine…you guys didn't invite me to the feast", Oliver greeted her with a kind smile and placed the bottle of wine on the table while taking in account of all the dishes that have been prepared by both Artemis and Megan. Artemis didn't know what overcome her as she rushed towards him and hugged him with all her might, "I am missed that much…Huh", he returned the hug and looked towards Megan who was standing near the kitchen table with a smile on her face. "Wanna join in Megan…..", Megan would have said yes and joined in but she knew Artemis needed a let out so instead she took a way out.
"I will give you guys some privacy and take Sergio for a walk…till my husband come back….and Thank you so much Mr. Oliver Queen for helping Corner out….", Oliver nodded as an answer with a smile as she hugged the sobbing girl in her hands even more, "Come on Sergio….up up"
"102 miles….", Artemis said in a hushed tone as she heard the familiar click of the door indicating Megan has left.
"What's 102 miles kiddo…?", Oliver asked perplexed wanting nothing more than to take all her pain away.
"102 miles…When I was in asylum….102 miles…. it's the distance you travelled every week just to see me for a few seconds….", Artemis repressed back a sob and asked, "Cotton candies…. you used to buy me those every time I get angry or sad….D used to bring me those chicken grilled sandwiches with happy faces drawn o them with ketchup….whenever I had some sort of medical test ….", She detached herself from him and stared at him.
"Where is this coming from…Artemis…", Oliver grabbed her from her shoulders keeping her steady as she just stared at him and continued.
"Cameron used to say that I am luckiest person in the world, that he would give anything to have someone like you in his life and I never doubted it ….i never doubted it….Dad….….i could write a sonnet on you and D if that will prove my gratitude for what you have done for me….", She shrugged his hands off and limped away from him.
"I know that kid….and I love you more than I Love anything in this world kiddo…don't tell me you don't believe that….", A silent alarm goes off in Oliver's mind as he prayed to God silently that she hadn't found her mother's secret or the devil's deal he signed on to keep her safe.
"I believe that but I also think love is a powerful motivation good enough for someone to take desperate action….like to fake someone's death…to lie to someone…possibly a series of desperate actions….can be categorized under loving someone's tab….", Artemis composed herself and removed any sign of tears from her face as Oliver just stood there observing her, "so tell me dad...i am not gonna find anything like that if I turn around the pages of the journal of my life a bit…"
"No you wouldn't….You can try but you wouldn't….even with the help of your crime partner Cameron you wouldn't find it", Oliver also composed himself and answered in a firm tone.
"It's funny though I nearly died…and you didn't show up…..", Artemis moved towards the kitchen and start preparing coffee for both of them, "I threw a one stone in the river of my past and here you are standing in front of me…what do you want me to make of this dad….Is your secret that big"
"I am your father…Artemis….Stop treating me like a criminal Damn it….", Oliver responded in anger this time, "Everything I have done….Everything from that day till now….i have done to protect you"
"But you don't even know what you are protecting me from….", Artemis answered in the same pitch as his.
"Artemis….Listen to me….Can't you trust my judgment for this…Can't you leave it alone for your sake…", Oliver nearly pleaded with her.
"No dad …I can't do that….you know I am not built that way", She answered with resolve.
"…And who gets blackmailed by his daughter?…..Oh I guess I do…..", Oliver muttered to himself and sighed as he sat down on the sofa tired of all this questioning, "What's in the past please let it be in the past….Artemis….", She presented a cup of coffee to him which he took with a sigh and held her hand down making her sit on the sofa along with him, "Listen to me kid…we are nothing more than our memories…our stories to the people we love….how the other people remember us….Please let it rest"
"Ollie you didn't give me a choice…..", Artemis desperately tries to hold back the tears but one traitorous tear slipped away from her right eye, "It's just that I have blamed myself for what happened to her for so many years for what happened to mom….You know? ….i am the one reaper was after…..", Oliver hugged her again as she continued while hugging him back, "Ollie if she is alive….if there is a slight possibility that by any miracle she is alive ….if there is anything that could prove it wasn't my fault…Ollie i will take it….even if that mean giving up my life….i will ….i just want it to be over …I am stuck in the past Ollie and the more I am struggling to get out ….the more I am getting entangled in it…. I don't want to be a victim anymore….So please help me out here"
Oliver sighed deeply and answered carefully after a while, "there is a safe in our house do you remember it…behind the wine rack in the storage room….", Artemis only nodded as an answer and Ollie smiled at her while wiping away the tears from her face, "it's password is Artemis…..", Artemis smiled brightly on that, "and in it there is everything you will ever need to know about your mother and your past….When you want to open it …It's your choice…But rest assured trust me kiddo….Sometimes the lies we let ourselves believes are for on own good not for someone's else….",he kissed her on her forehead and get off the sofa and said in an annoyed tone, "you call this shit coffee….Are you torturing me kiddooo…let me teach you how to make a real coffee"
"Throw it away ….i will make you a new one….that one was just a payback…Dad…."
"nah…I am gonna make it….BTW Artemis… who's your daddy?"
"You are….and I hate it when you do that…"
"Artemis …you had your mother's heart ….just thought you should know", Oliver added as an afterthought as he started making coffee.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAKK
Please do review and let me have your thoughts on the story so far
Next up The dates…
THANK YOU to everyone who liked this story so far….you guys are the best :)