Disclaimer: not mine
Clark had called in sick. It was something he did from time to time, to keep up appearances. That, losing the train at least twice a week whenever he wasn't supposed to go to the Planet with Lois and other charades were also part of his way of protecting his identity. But today he didn't want to go to work. Barbara's death and the painful and fiercely sad circumstances around it were a constant blow in his conscience. And he couldn't shake away the feeling that Lex was somehow behind it. Would knowing what he had taken away even flip a switch in his psychotic mind? He doubted it.
Lois had reluctantly left for the Planet. She hated seeing him affected like that, but this time he couldn't share all the facts. Most of all not after Ollie's call first thing in the morning telling him his plans over the situation. He looked at his watch, it was nearly five thirty. Last night they had both decided that they would go to Smallville for a visit. Smallville was their beginning, their anchor, something they both needed sometimes.
Lois would take the car and go directly after lunch. As long as they let her listen to her music, she didn't mind driving long distances, and that way she had her own means of going back to Metropolis in case Clark had to leave unexpectedly.
Bruce entered directly through the cave. He wanted to get started with the decryption as well as contacting Barbara's second security source. As soon as they gathered the information and put the pieces back together, he would have a path to follow towards her murderers. Alfred came down the stairs.
"Master Bruce, I figured you'd be here. You have a visit waiting in the manor."
"Tell them I'm not here."
"It's Mr. Oliver Queen, sir. I believe it has something to do with Miss Gordon's identity."
Bruce breathed deeply. "Bring him down, Alfred."
"Very well, sir."
While Alfred went up for Ollie, Bruce started decrypting.
Five minutes later, Oliver Queen came down the stairs.
"Figured you wouldn't change the decoration," said Ollie while looking at his surroundings.
Bruce didn't bother to turn.
"What do you want?," he asked in his usual dry tone.
"You are a League member, Bruce. I need to know if you are severing your ties with us."
"Sever? That's a harsh word coming from you."
"Am I wrong?"
Bruce finally turned. "No."
"I hope it is temporary."
"We'll see," he said. Ollie didn't move. "Anything else?"
"Oracle. There were very few people who knew her real identity, even inside the League. Barbara cannot be compromised, it would place more people in danger than we want, and Oracle is too important as an asset, so as far as the world is concerned, she's alive. I've already started the transfer protocol. Helena is responsible for the Birds now, it is up to her whether she wants to keep them active or not. I have extended an offer for them to join the League if they wish not to work solo, or at least for a transitional period until everyone is adjusted. As for the League, Barbara had signed a pre-contract, accepting to work with us on a more permanent basis. I don't know if you were aware of that."
"No."
"The contract will remain the same."
"Why are you telling me?"
"Because I want to keep you informed, Bruce, even if you don't give a shit about any of it. The League is important, what we do is important. I'm telling you because I want you to know how things are done here. And I'm telling you because I want you to know I care and I will protect Barbara's identity, as well as the new Oracle's."
Bruce stared blankly at him. "Is that all?"
Ollie clenched his fists, but opted to keep the white flag waving. "Yes."
"Fine." Bruce turned back to the computer.
"Don't worry, I'll let myself out," said Ollie as he turned to leave the cave.
Bruce stared at the screen as the computer worked. He didn't realize his hand had been holding Barbara's doll the whole time. Squeezing it lightly one last time, he carefully placed it on the table by the keyboard.
Once out, Ollie took his phone and called Clark again. Superman being one of the founding members of the League who did know Barbara's identity, he had to be informed. Plus a friend right now wouldn't be bad. He had set up the jet to take Dinah home while he organized everything, then he would go back to Star City, hopefully before this dreadful day ended. Clark finally picked up the phone.
"Hey, how are you?"
"Developing a serious case of bat phobia. I'm just outside his lair," said Ollie.
"So, you're doing it?"
"It's already done, Clark, and it looks like it was going to happen anyway."
"What do you mean?," asked Clark.
"Look Clark, I've been the whole day either on the phone, either trying to make Dinah feel better, either talking to a frikkin' iceman. I'm a little frustrated. Can't we talk face to face?" The line went dead. "Clark? Clark, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear, Ollie." Ollie looked up to see Superman landing in front of him.
"Man, that has to be a new record."
"I've been practicing. So tell me."
"Apparently Barbara had contacted Ella not long ago as back-up help. She was already starting to get ready."
"They were in contact?," asked a surprised Clark.
"They knew each other, remember? Gotham, 2012?"
"That's not what I'm asking, Ollie."
"Yes, they were friends. I thought you knew."
"I made certain promises and I kept them, hard as they were. Go on."
Ollie's face turned somber. "Barbara's autopsy revealed--"
"I read it."
Neither of them wanted to talk about the baby. It was heartbreaking.
"She was going to take it easy, Clark. She had planned for Ella to start working with her towards her third trimester, and to take over for her to have maternity leave. Then she was planning on having both working together. Ella had been supporting systems for a few missions in Europe. Barbara trusted her."
"And now you're turning Ella into Oracle?," asked Clark.
Ollie didn't have to be a genius to know Clark didn't like the idea. "She is aware of it, you know? Ella's a big girl."
"It's dangerous, Ollie," said Clark in a patronizing tone.
"Yeah, I noticed, Clark. A woman is dead."
Clark breathed. His friendship with Ollie was solid but conflicted. They didn't always see eye to eye, and that had taken them to the limit on more than one occasion.
"Look, I am not saying what you should or shouldn't do--"
"Good, because last time I checked, I was the one leading the League."
Clark softened his tone for the sake of the conversation. He was the only one of them able to do it anyway. "But can't you give it some time?"
His softened approach worked, as usual, and Ollie's answer, while still being in disagreement with his own wish, was reasonably elaborated.
"We don't have time," he said looking at Clark. "Oracle was not Barbara Gordon the person, Clark. She created something above her, she built a reputation, a role. Heroes trust her, the bad guys fear her. If the word comes out that Oracle is dead, and that the daughter of Commissioner Gordon was the woman behind the curtain, we may find ourselves dealing with far too much." Clark looked down. "Clark, right now I would rather be home holding my wife, but I know I have to do this, and it has to be done now. I know you don't like it, but you're going to have to deal with it."
Yes. As much as it bothered him, Clark knew he was right.
"Do you want me to take you to Star City?," he finally said.
"No, go home," said a now softer Ollie. "From what I read in the press, you've got your own drama to deal with. And be careful with Lex on that front. It doesn't look good either."
"I will. We will be in Smallville, but call me if you need anything, ok?"
"Ok."
Gotham City Hospital. Traction and Physiotherapy wing.
June, 2012.
Ella held her thigh, wondering what the hell had she done to her physical therapist. She'd done well with the old prosthetic, she didn't understand why Ollie had insisted on trying a new modern design if it meant going again through all this, as renowned as Gotham's Hospital was at this specific physiotherapy. They had built up a table from hell. This preprosthetic program was killing her. Sitting on her chair, she massaged the stump in a weak attempt to make the pain go away.
"Looks like it hurts."
Ella looked up. She'd thought she was alone, and now she was sharing the room with a young woman sitting on a wheelchair. Redhead, yellow colored glasses and a kind smile. The movement of her upper body told Ella she was a paraplegic, and the absence of handles on the chair showed her that she was a strong willed paraplegic. Suddenly her self-pity seemed ridiculous.
"I'm still trying to get used to it," said Ella while rubbing her stump and trying not to give away the fact that she was complaining about a freaking leg when that woman could not walk.
"It takes time, but you seem to be doing good."
"Not that good," she said smiling. Then she opted for a direct approach. "What happened?"
"A shot on a bad place," said the woman. "And you?"
Trying to get rid of her shame for her shallowness, Ella managed to answer. "A-- car accident."
"I see. I'm Barbara, by the way," she said extending her hand. "Barbara Gordon."
"Ella." She paused and shook the redhead's hand. "Ella Hunt."
The ringing of the phone got Ella out of the walk down memory lane. She looked at the clock. Half past one, and she wasn't asleep.
"Oliver."
"Hey, I'm sorry for the time. I hope I didn't wake you up."
"Actually you didn't. Why the late hour?"
"Busy day."
Ella felt stupid for having asked. "I'm sorry, Ollie, I--"
"Don't worry, I know."
"I would've liked to be there," she said.
"You and I both know that it wouldn't have been a wise idea, Ella," said Ollie.
"I know, but still...," she sighed. "Anyway, I don't suppose you're making a social call, right?"
"I'm afraid I'm not. I called a meeting today. Things don't look too good among the ones who knew her identity. As for the rest, you know the drill. Oracle is alive and nothing has changed. Luckily for you her upcoming schedule was mission lite, so you shouldn't have a lot of trouble catching up."
"I estimate around two days with sleep deprivation."
"Are you still intending to go back to Gotham?"
"I'll send you an e-mail tomorrow with my flight schedule."
"You know you don't have to."
"I know, but you know I'm doing it, right?"
"Right," said Ollie. "You will have your old apartment, I'll make the arrangements."
"Thank you."
"Guess will be seeing again soon then."
"Soon. Good-bye, Ollie."
"Night, Ella."
Ella hung up the phone and tried to sleep, even if for a few hours, before her life made a U-turn once again.
Author's notes: hope you enjoyed. Seven chapters + two epilogues to go.
