Chapter 6 Birds of a Feather (Give Thanks Together)

Barbara loved the smell of old books. Most people preferred e-books these days, but Barbara was a sucker for the classics. She always waited until she had a decent stack of old editions before she began putting them away, leaving it for the lulls in her shift. Which were more frequent since most people got their information from the net rather then actually stepping foot in the library.

Not that she could claim much better, Barbara thought as she wheeled in the Romance section replacing a Jane Austin. The Oracle was a master of technology. But Barbara was no stranger to duality within herself. Hence her day job as the head librarian in the Gotham public library and her night one as the all-knowing Oracle.

"Heya Babs."

Barbara jumped in her seat. She didn't bother to look at was sure to be the grinning face behind her. "Helena, you're going to give me a heart attack one day."

"How did you know it was me?"

"The only other people who call me Babs are men." Another thought came to her. "Shouldn't you be in school?"

"I'm skipping, being a bad girl."

Barbara could easily think of a hundred worse things but still laughed. She turned around and was surprised to see Helena hanging from one of the beams above the bookshelves. Barbara wondered how she got up there as Helena swung down and landed gracefully in front of the librarian. She figured it out the second the though crossed her mind.

"I always forget you're a gymnast."

"How could you forget? I do this every time."

"You don't look like a gymnast." Though, Barbara thought Helena looked familiar even when they first met. She could never place where she'd seen Helena's stunning looks before, but she figured it would come to her someday. Probably when looking at models in magazines or watching an actress in a movie. Someday in the distant future when she had time to do either activity.

"Why? Because I'm not 5'2 with no breasts." Helena stuck out her already ample chest to further her point.

Babs laughed again. "Actually, that's got a lot to do with it."

Barbara wheeled herself back behind the counter, Helena following gingerly. She leaned over the counter as Barbara fetched more books to put back in their proper place. "Come on, Babs, you aren't 5'2 and flat-chested and you used to be a gymnast."

Barbara's head popped back up again from under the desk, a fresh stack of books in her lap. "That's different. I was not a world-class gymnast."

It was different. Barbara Gordon had not been a world-class gymnast; she had been Batgirl. In the world of spandex and masks it worked to a woman's advantage to have curves. Hell, Selina could have written an entire book on the subject. Of course, Barbara couldn't say any of that so she just began to roll herself to the Non-fiction section.

Helena still followed. "It doesn't matter anyway. I quit the team."

Barbara stopped and whirled herself around. She wished she wouldn't have to look up so much when she scolded someone. "Why on earth did you do that?"

Helena wasn't looking at Barbara, acting like a child in trouble. The silence stretched on until Helena broke it with a sigh. "Look, Babs, I need your help."

Barbara began moving again figuring it was best to drop the subject. Considering what she'd been through Babs could hardly blame the girl for wanting to quit gymnastics and lose herself in schoolwork. "Of course, which subject?"

As she replaced The Biography of Lex Luthor: His Rise and Fall she could hear Helena's hesitation. "It's my parents…I need to find them…and I don't…um…I don't know how…to find them."

Another thing Barbara missed was looking into to people's eyes. Helena was still averting hers, but Barbara desperately wanted to see what feeling was in them. "Helena, what happened was awful, but nothing can bring your parents back. If you want to become more spiritual after this, it's understandable but then you should be in a church not a library. There's nothing for you to find here."

Barbara just hoped Helena wasn't planning on doing anything drastic. She'd been Batgirl and the Oracle long enough to see happened when people messed with powers they shouldn't.

"No it's not them. It's…" Helena let out a groan of frustration and rested her forehead on a bookshelf. She told the books, "I found out I was adopted. I want to find my birth parents."

It was times like this Barbara was almost thankful for the chair; it saved her the trouble of having to find one to sit down on. She guided Helena over to a table where Helena explained everything. Combined with what she knew from Cassie about the note left in blood, Barbara could see why Helena was so anxious to find her real parents and with them maybe some real answers. She would have to make a few phone calls after this.

"What did you do when you found all this out, Helena?"

"I destroyed a room and then got drunk."

Barbara frowned. "You shouldn't do that."

"I know the drinking's illegal."

"Well, no, but it's still not a good coping mechanism."

"Unless they changed the drinking age recently, it's illegal Babs."

"You're a senior in college Helena, you can't be that young."

"I skipped a year in grade school and I was born in June. I'm only 20."

"Oh." Funny, Barbara always believed Helena acted old for her age when she thought she was older. "Which room did you destroy?"

"My father's office. I was looking for proof concerning my adoption."

Barbara took in this information. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Helena looked off in the distance. "I don't know what I was looking for." She gave a little laugh, grabbing a chair and sitting across from Barbara. "I guess I still don't."

Helena let her head drop into her hands. They sat in silence. Barbara didn't know what to say or how to comfort Helena. She rarely let any vulnerability show, but now tears may be streaking down her hidden face.

When Helena looked up again, there was no firm evidence she'd been crying. She recollected herself instantly and looked at Barbara. "Will you help me?"

Barbara didn't need to consider it. "Of course, where should we start?"

Meeting with Helena finally motivated Barbara enough to really investigate the Troy murders. She was currently watching a tape of an old gymnastic meet to identify any possible suspects.

Barbara had gone to a few of Helena's meets and had always been impressed by her obvious talent. The first time Helena invited her to a meet, Barbara was touched. Helena always struck her as such an isolated child, always keeping to herself only opening up to Barbara after a month of practically living in the library studying. They found a common love of gymnastics and over time became friends. Barbara couldn't say no to Helena's rare show of open friendliness. Besides, Barbara had a soft spot for a bookworm with athletic ambitions.

Watching Helena's qualifying match for the Olympic team just reminded Barbara why people said Helena willingly threw away a gold medal. Her form and executions were near flawless. She was the perfect example of strength and grace personified.

It also reminded Barbara of her semi-serious thoughts about approaching Helena becoming the third Batgirl. Cassie could use the help and Helena seemed too perfect of a candidate. Barbara could not dismiss the idea, but had no idea how to go about approaching the girl. After her parents' deaths Barbara became even more convinced that Helena should join the Bat family, and more confused about how to go about doing so.

"What are you watching?"

Barbara jumped and whipped her head around to see who scared her. Twice in one day, she must be slipping. She wasn't surprised by her guest's identity, though. "Jesus, Dick don't you knock?"

Dick stepped forward clad in his Nightwing uniform. "Notice the outfit, Babs."

"The uniform doesn't excuse your manners, Dick."

"That may be so, but your windows don't have knockers Babs."

She glared at him. He took off his mask and plopped down on the sofa, making himself quite comfortable. "Back to my original question. What are you watching?"

She pointed at the girl dismounting the balance beam. "That's Helena Troy."

Dick started eating the M&Ms from Barbara's candy dish. "The girl Bruce is obsessed with?"

Barbara frowned, for her disappearing chocolate as much as the comment. "The girl whose parents were murdered, yes."

"Oh come off it Barbara. The old man's obsessed, more so than usual. I don't get it. I'd understand if she was ten and it happened right in front of her, but she's a big girl, she can handle it."

"She's still an orphan caused by crime. Bruce seems to have a soft spot for them."

It was a low blow, but Dick only tensed for a moment. He watched the figure move across the screen. "She's certainly good looking though. If only I was ten years younger."

Barbara snatched away her candy dish. "Try twenty years younger."

Dick smirked. "Jealous?"

Barbara rolled her eyes. "Why are you here?"

Dick smiled. "Maybe that's why the old man is so obsessed, he's got a weakness for beautiful women too you know."

Barbara sighed in response.

Dick was satisfied. "I wanted to see if you needed a ride for tomorrow."

Barbara looked back blankly.

"Thanksgiving at Wayne Manor?"

Right. With all the stores focusing on Christmas, Barbara had forgotten about the holiday. She thought of Helena. Poor girl, she'd be alone. Well, not if Barbara could help it. "No. Do you think Bruce would be upset if I brought someone?"

Dick stiffened. "You're seeing someone."

Barbara entertained the thought of letting Dick think that but decided against it. She still felt guilty about the orphan comment. "No, but I'm friends with Helena Troy. She shouldn't be alone."

"I doubt Bruce would have any problem with it. Cassie might be upset, she's almost as bad as Alfred about surprise guests."

No one was happy about the extra dinner guest but nobody was opposed either. They were a group who understood the pain of loss and loneliness and sacrificing something you want to better someone else's life.

Dick got over Barbara's dinner guest as soon as he learned it wasn't a new boyfriend. He had spent most of the past two days with Bruce and Cassie; he secretly welcomed the new company.

Cassie was mostly upset about the extra place setting messing up her table arrangement anyway, which only proved to Dick that she modeled her new role of nurse and housemaid too much after Alfred.

Alfred. Dick wished the old butler could join them for the Thanksgiving meal but ever since his second stroke he'd been confined to bed rest. Officially, that's why Bruce hired Cassie to become a permanent resident of Wayne Manor, to care for the two elderly men. In reality, it was Bruce who insisted on caring for Alfred. He said he was making up for years of care that could never be paid in full.

Dick knew the visitor from outside the family upset Bruce. What Dick couldn't decide though was why. Was it because there could be no plain discussion of Bat business at the dinner table? Was it because Bruce would be forced to act his public image of an elderly fop and old playboy at a Thanksgiving meal? Or was it just because it didn't allow Bruce to lock himself up in his cave studying case files? Dick figured it was probably a combination of the three.

Dick heard the door ring and went to open it for Barbara and Helena. He briefly wondered where Bruce was as he could hear Cassie banging around in the kitchen.

He opened the door to a smartly dressed Barbara and a lost looking Helena. Babs held up a bottle. "I brought wine."

Dick laughed. "Good. Everyone knows family functions can't function without booze."

Barbara never held Dick's appreciation for puns. "Helena brought a pie."

Dick looked at Helena who was grasping on that pie like a life preserver. He held out a hand. "I'm Richard Grayson, but call me Dick. Come in both of you."

Barbara wheeled in. Helena took Richard's hand and gave him a strange look. "I've never actually met a guy who called himself a dick before."

Dick didn't quite know how to react to that but he saw a sparkle in Helena's eyes along with a regained confidence she now held as she strolled past him. She led the way, looking like she not only knew where she was heading but also owned the place.

Dick managed to stop staring at Barbara's car and shut the door. Barbara whispered to him, " She takes some getting used to."

Dick walked beside Barbara to the dining room. "Which is a polite way of saying that she's difficult." Barbara started to protest but Dick cut her off. "Babs, I grew up with Bruce, I can handle difficult."

"Where is he, anyway?"

Dick shrugged. "I do not know."

Dick and Barbara discovered that Helena had met Cassie in the kitchen. They opened the bottle of wine and made small talk until Cassie had the meal ready. It was only then that Bruce showed up.

He didn't even sit down, he said hello to everyone and started to grab food. Before he could leave, Barbara spoke up, "Bruce, we have a guest." Dick recognized the voice; it was the Oracle telling you how things were done.

Bruce just brushed it off. "I apologize for leaving, Miss Troy, but I am having my meal with the man who raised me. He is too sick to come down or he would have gladly eaten with us. However, I do hope your meal and your stay. Perhaps, I'll be down later."

He left. Barbara and Cassie looked pissed. Dick just finished his glass of wine. He was used to the old man pulling this kind of shit. He looked at Helena. She had a calculating gaze focusing on where Bruce had just left. Dick was a little confused, but relieved she didn't seem offended.

Other Bruce's bad manners, the dinner went off without a hitch. Cassie was a quick study, and learned how to cook well under Alfred's tutelage. The conversation ranged from learning about the only unknown guest to the past humiliations of Barbara and Dick. When the meal was finished, Barbara and Dick helped clear the table while Helena asked where she could find a bathroom.

As they sat in the kitchen drinking coffee, Barbara mentioned that she should get going. "Where's Helena?"

"She went to the bathroom." Dick noticed the time. "About an hour ago."

Cassie hadn't said much all day, but her ears perked up at this. "She could find things."

They spilt up to search for her.

Dick finally found Helena in the study, looking at the portrait of Thomas and Martha Wayne. He was a little confused. His confusion increased when he saw Bruce standing beside her. He stopped himself from going in, hoping to discover some answers.

"They were great people. They did so much for Gotham."

Dick was surprised the words had not come out of Bruce's mouth. He almost didn't hear her question.

"Does it ever stop hurting?"

He could hear the pain. No sad topics had been approached at dinner, and Dick had been slightly impressed by her ability to avoid any mention of her parents, seemingly over it. Apparently it was on her mind more than she let on. He knew the answer as well as Bruce, who answered truthfully, "Never."

She gave a snort of a laugh. She tore her eyes from the painting. "I just found out they weren't even my real parents. My whole life was a lie. You would think that would matter more."

Dick saw that Bruce was at a loss. Comforting others was not a strength in his impressive inventory of them. Dick was at a loss too, why was she so readily opening up to Bruce of all people? He put it aside though, and decided to rescue Bruce. "There you are! Barbara wanted to know if you were ready to leave?"

She would have made a brilliant actress; already the sadness had left her eyes. "Of course. It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Wayne." She held out her hand.

Bruce accepted it gently. "The pleasure was entirely mine, Miss Troy."

With a flick of hair she left. Dick was one of the few who would have actually caught the flash of pain crossing Bruce's face. It did not mean, however, that he understood the reason behind it.