Thanks to Night and now to Aussie, that is helping me on the edition while Night is on vacations....
And thanks so much all for your nice feedback

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Leslie Thompkins was the woman that had helped Barbara. According to Alfred, Leslie had been a close friend of Thomas Wayne, her grandfather. She took it upon herself to look after Wayne's son, Bruce. She used to help him when he was seriously injured after a fight. She ran a clinic for criminals and drug addicts in the city.

Helena remembered now that she had seen her sometimes at the manor, but she didn't pay her much attention because she had been so consumed by her pain.

She closed the curtains in the room. The lamp at the night table lit the room. She turned to see the redhead deeply asleep in her bed. The doctor was able to find a sample of the poison on one of the bullets and work on the antidote.

She sat next to her. Now she could only wait.

Leslie had gone outside with Alfred, but Helena didn't want move from Barbara's side. She was afraid that if she left, Barbara might die. She would be there until she knew Barbara would be fine.

She picked up a wet cloth and cleaned the older woman's face.

She checked the IV in her arm, it was working well. She sat next to her, she still was sweating so much, her temperature high.

Leslie had said she would be okay, but she wasn't taking any chances. She wanted to be there if she needed anything.

She leaned over and kissed her n her lips lightly.

It was weird. Se realized how much she loved her and how that feeling scared her. It had been the main reason that she had pushed her away all those years. The fear of love and loss.

She was scared as hell, seeing her covered in all that blood. She didn't think she'd ever feel that kind of fear again.

And now Barbara was lying there, fighting to survive, poisoned with the bullet that was meant for her. She had saved her life. Those bastards really wanted to see her underground.

She had been a moron with the redhead all those years. She promised she would change if she would just be okay.

"Helena?" The redhead stirred

"I'm here," the brunette hurried to say, taking her hand.

"Careful…" the redhead mumbled.

"We are home, Red."

"The gun… he has a gun," Barbara whispered moving restless.

"It's okay, we are safe."

The older woman opened her eyes and looked around, disoriented and agitated. Helena wet the cloth again. She cleaned the redhead's forehead.

"He has a gun." Barbara looked at the brunette.

"He is dead, don't worry," Helena said softy.

"He wants to kill you."

"No, no, we are safe now. Calm down, please."

"He has a gun!" The redhead sat up and tried to push her down. Her movement was fast and surprised the brunette.

The young woman had a hard time trying to control her, she was strong and she didn't want to hurt her. She hugged her.

"Barbara, look at me." Helena took her the redhead's face in her hand and forced her to look at her. "Barbara, it's me."

Green eyes stared at her, confused. "Helena?"

"Yes, I'm safe, we are safe, we are home. Look around, it's your room."

"My room?" Barbara was sweating.

"Yes, your room," Helena confirmed.

"Home."

"Home."

The redhead closed her eyes and rested her head on the brunette's shoulder. Helena cleaned the sweat of her forehead with a napking carefully.

Barbara kept still. After a few minutes, Helena noticed she had fallen asleep. She rested her chin on the redhead's forehead and stared at the far wall.

She couldn't move out of her mind the blurr memory of her kiss to Barbara, it hand't been a dream.

She didn't believe in anything, but in that moment she felt she wanted believe. She closed her eyes, praying.

She didn't know how long she stayed there with her, but it was a long time.

She touched her forehead. It seemed her temperature wasn't as high as a few hours ago. It was a good sign.

"You are better," she whispered and laid her down on the bed. She heard the door opening and turned her head.

It was Leslie.

"How is she doing?" the old doctor asked.

"The fever is down," Helena answered, moving back. "She doesn't feel as warm."

"Let me check her."

"She woke, but she was delirious."

"How long ago?" Leslie sat next to the redhead.

"Maybe two hours."

"All right. Go to sleep, Helena. You are tired."

"No, I'm fine."

The minutes Leslie took examining Barbara were hours for Helena. She sat on a chair at the other side of the room, observing her. She didn't want to think what would happen if Barbara died. It was her fault, she was so stubborn, she didn't want to listen her.

Helena covered her face with her hands. She never would forgive herself if something happened to her.

She felt it then, a hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head and looked up. Leslie was smiling at her.

"She will be fine," she said. "The antidote worked."

"Oh thanks." Helena couldn't hold back and stood up, hugging the doctor. "Thanks so much."

"It's okay," Leslie said and moved back. "Now, go to sleep, I'll keep an eye on her."

Helena looked at Barbara. She lowered her head and bit her lips. "I'd prefer to stay," she said with a low voice.

Leslie understood and she nodded. "All right, I'll be in the guest room. Call me if she needs anything."

Helena smiled lightly.

Leslie left the room and closed the door behind her.

Helena removed her coat and sat on the bed. She had never seen Barbara so vulnerable as at that moment. She always was confident, secure, strong. She had seen an unknown part of her that had moved her deeply.

She rested her head on the pillow, observing her.

Her breath was peaceful, soft.

It was so beautiful to see her breathe. She let her index trace her nose, it had a wonderful shape. She loved it.

She caressed the red hair. It was soft. Very soft, her fingers played with her long hair.

She could smell her. It was a special essence, so familiar that she could recognize it everywhere.

She didn't realize when she fell asleep.

----------

Barbara woke with a big headache. She winced, feeling a sharp pain at her side. Oh damn. Yes, she had been hurt. She remembered she fainted in the lab and… took her a few seconds remember what had happened.

A bullet had scratched her side and she had fainted at the lab.

She felt a purr at her left side.

She was not alone.

She opened her eyes, still a bit numb and looked down.

Helena was sleeping with her head resting on her arm.

Helena? What was she doing here?

The brunette snuggled closer and buried her nose in her side. She had her arm around her waist, but she didn't touch her bandaged side. She seemed to unconsciously know she could hurt her.

Helena didn't usually to stay with her, in fact she refused to be so close. She was dressed and, given the items around and the IV in her arm, it seemed she had been in critical situation and that Helena had been taking care of her and had fallen asleep. It was completely charming.

She never expected it of the brunette. She moved her hand and brushed her hair back. Helena had her moments. Inside, she was still the sweet girl she had known years ago. Her rude moods and her coldness were just shields that she used to protect her heart from being hurt. She had suffered a lot after her mother's death. Barbara still felt bad for not being there when she needed her.

The brunette stirred and sleepily opened her eyes.

"Morning," the redhead greeted, smiling.

Helena jerked back abruptly, noticing where she had fallen asleep.

"It's fine, Helena," Barbara said, reassuringly.

"I'm sorry…" Helena mumbled, ashamed. She sat up on the bed and rubbed her eyes. "I fell asleep…"

"Don't worry."

The brunette stood up, arranging her clothes. "How do you feel?"

"A bit numb," the redhead said, brushing her hair back. "I guess I passed out, maybe I lost too much blood." She removed the covers and checked the bandage on her waist.

"You were poisoned," Helena said with low voice.

"What?" the redhead lifted her head to look at the brunette, she thought she hadn't heard clearly.

"You were poisoned. The bullet that hit you and killed the man was poisoned."

Barbara frowned. "How do you know that?"

"Doctor Thompkins checked you."

"Is Leslie still here?"

"Uh… yeah… I guess…."

The door opened at that moment. The doctor appeared.

"Hey, morning. It seems you are doing much better," she said.

"Hi Leslie." Barbara smiled at her.

"I left you in good hands last night, but it seems she was tired." She winked at Helena, who blushed. "When I came to check on you, you were both sound asleep."

"She took care of me very well, Leslie."

"I know," the doctor said, standing next to her.

"Was I poisoned?"

"Yes. The scratch was not serious, but the bullet had a potent poison. Luckily, your body just absorbed a small bit. Most of the poison was on your armor. Helena told me everything last night. It seems someone really wants to see her dead."

"I'm trying to investigate it," the redhead explained.

"You must be careful, kid." Leslie said to Helena.

"I know." The brunette stretched and yawned. "I'm gonna take a shower."

"All right, I'll see you for breakfast," Barbara said looking the brunette. "And, Helena?"

The young woman opened the door and turned back to look at her.

"Thanks." The redhead smiled.

"Any time, Barbara," Helena responded, closing the door behind her.

Leslie sat on a chair. "I haven't seen Helena in years. I'm glad she has accepted your help. Alfred told me the story."

"It has not been easy. Helena is so difficult," Barbara explained. "It is back and forth with her, all the time. But I think that she knows, deep down, that she can trust me. Now she is in therapy with a shrink, I hope it helps her."

"Therapy? I don't see Helena as someone who would go to therapy."

"The court sent her, anger management."

"What did she do?"

"Long story."

"Why, with Helena, is everything a long story?" Leslie crossed her arms.

"Well," Barbara laughed, "long story."


Detective Reese opened his trunk and took out a bag. As he closed it, the mysterious woman that had surprised him a few days ago was standing there.

He jumped back, startled.

She smiled at him."Hi!"

"Fuck! You scared me."

Huntress looked at herself. "Is my outfit that bad?"

He took out his gun and aimed it at her.

"Hey, that is not nice. I came to visit you." She frowned.

"Don't try to escape."

::I told you this would not work.:: Oracle said in Huntress' ear.

The brunette tilted her head and touched her ear. "I have everything under control," she mumbled.

::Sure.::

"What?" Reese asked.

"I said that I came here to return this to you." Huntress turned to look inside the pocket of her long coat.

"Don't move!" Reese shouted, still pointing his gun at her.

::I told you.:: Oracle said, amused ::Why don't you ever listen to me?::

"Don't be stupid," Huntress said to him. "I would have killed you before now. I want to give this back to you."

She showed him the top of a plastic bag.

She took it out slowly.

"See?" Huntress said. "This is yours. Could you please put down your gun?"

The detective hesitated a few seconds, but she was right, she had surprised him. If she wanted to kill him, she already would have done it. He reluctantly put his gun down.

"Why did you take this? It is police property," he said, taking the bag. "Did you touch anything?"

"No, it's all there. I just took a sample from one of the bullets. Careful, they are poisoned.

""Poisoned?"

"Yes."Reese looked at her curiously.

Helena grinned, he was fun.

"I just came to give it back to you, as I promised," she said. "I needed to make an antidote with it. The man that tried to kill me, hurt my friend instead."

"You and another person were at the murder scene?"

::You talk too much::

"Shut up," Huntress pulled his gun again and pointed it at her.

"Hands up!"

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Here we go again," she mumbled, shaking her head and raising her hands.

"Who are you? Who is your friend?"

"Detective, we have already been through this."

::I told you this wouldn't work.:: noted Oracle.

"Ha, ha, ha."

"How do I know," he lifted the bag, "that you didn't switch the evidence?"

"Why don't you put that gun down and we can talk?" She moved fast and kicked his hand, making him throw the gun. She caught it in the air.

"What the…?"

Huntress opened the gun and threw the bullets to the ground. She gave it back to him.

"All right," she said smiling, "now we can talk."

"You…." Reese pointed at her with his index finger.

"Come on, relax, man!" She showed him her coat. "I'm unarmed! Are you afraid of an unarmed girl? You want to talk or not?"

He sighed and glared at her, resting his hands on his hips.

"Yes."

"Good." She sat on the front of the car and patted the hood to her side.

"Come here." }

"I'm fine where I am, thanks. Why did you kill my friend, the detective?"

"First, I didn't kill anyone," she said, amused, "and second, you must choose your friends better. That one worked for the bad guys and tried to kill me."

"You are lying. He was a good cop." Reese looked at her with distrust.

"Sure and I'm Wonder Woman. Your friend drugged me to help a criminal catch me."

"Catch you? Why?"

"I fight at night as a crime fighter," Huntress explained, waving her hands. "Seems I have been interfering in the activities of some drug lord. He is pissed and now he is hunting for my head." She cocked her head. "Do you remember the guys tied up at the dockyards a few weeks ago with the drug bags next to them? I broke the arm of one of the guys. And the ship that sank in the bay with drug containers inside? One of the thugs threw a grenade at me and it blew up the front of the boat."

"Yes… They said a shadow had attacked them."

"It was me," she smirked. "Nice job, eh?"

"You are… one of them?" Reese hesitated before asking.

"Them?"

"Those people…. you know, people that can do things that no normal person could do."

"Metahumans, Reese."

"Metahumans?"

"People with exceptional skills, like me." Helena lifted her leg and hugged her was not sure whether or not she could be trusted. But she hadn't lied when she had described the people they had found with drugs. It hadn't been published in the press. Maybe he could ask questions

"What happened that night?" he asked.

"Well, I went to ask him who sent him to drug me. A sniper tried to kill me, my friend pushed me down and the bullet killed your friend. He was not the good guy you think. My friend was hurt, the bullet was poisoned, I needed a sample to make an antidote."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"I need your help."

"My help?""Many police officers are involved. They are protecting them"

"Why should I believe you? I don't know you."

"Because you don't have anything else and you want to know who is behind this."

::Give him the names:: Oracle said.

"Oh right," she jumped off the car and took a piece paper out of her pocket, extending it to him. "Take this. It might be interesting for you to check out these guys. All are policemen, we suspect they are involved with this drug lord."

"We?"

"Just check it," she said, winking.

"I'll find for you later."

"I don't understand."

"You will when you check when and where those guys have been." She walked toward the corner.

"What's your name?"

She turned, but kept walking, backwards.

"For you, Huntress."


"You did what?" Barbara asked in disbelief, removing her eyeglasses.

"I was chasing down your bad guy." Helena sat on a chair and put her feet on the table.

"Now the court called me. I must be there tomorrow."

"You could have gone around the fire hydrant!" She put down the papers she was working on the kitchen table. "Hey, feet down."

The brunette obeyed and crossed her arms over the table. "I fight against crime and I'm punished for destroying city property while chasing down your bad guy. Life sucks. Lousy hours, nonexistent pay, no recognition ... traffic tickets? How could you love this life?"

"That's the downside of having a secret identity -- the secrecy."

Helena glared at her. "I'm not going to wear a mask."

"How is your therapy going? Is it a good shrink?" Barbara sipped a sip of the coffe in front of her.

"For me, all shrinks suck. It's a woman. Maybe thirty, thirty three."

"What's her name?"

"Quinzel, Harleen Quinzel." Helena scratched her head "She asked me about my life, I told her about you, and she told me that if you take care of a hell-bent girl like me, you must be a saint or a closet masochist. She says you might be the one who needs the therapy."

"I must be a masochist, then." Barbara smiled.

"I thought the same."

"Well therapy seems not to be so bad."

"It's not bad, it sucks," the brunette grumbled.

"Come on, maybe it will help you"

"Help me?"

"Yes. The court sent you there for anger management, right?"

"I was chasing your bad guy! I told you!"

"You are easily distracted and that is not good. It will help you, seriously."

"You are distracting me."

"I shouldn't be. It's part of your training. I can say many things, but that is not a reason to be distracted. All right." Barbara said standing up "Take the Hummer to court."

"That sounds good."

"No more than 40 miles per hour."

Helena sighed dramatically.

"Well, now go." The redhead walked toward Delphi. "We need to find that info."

"All right."

"Turn on your mic."

"Yes, mom," Helena said sarcastically, walking toward the was weird hearing Barba… Oracle's voice while she ran between buildings. She was not used to being "guided." She was always her sat in front of the Delphi and began to work. It was good that the stubborn brunette agreed to stay at her home and had accepted her followed her movements using the young woman moved incredibly fast. She was agile, strong and very skillful fighting. Her main problem was that she didn't stop to think.

"Go to your right." She said over the mic.

::Excuse me?::

"Go to your right, to the Bullock building. Your view will be much better there."

::How do you know where I am?::

"I told you. I can trace you with the necklace."

::That sucks. I can't do anything bad.::

"That's the point." Barbara said, amused. "All right, I blocked all the security cameras and alarms. There are guards on the top floor, so go inside and turn to your left," Oracle said.

::To my left? This thing is weird.::

"Just do what I say." She sighed. Helena was so difficult. If she didn't explain something, she didn't want to do it. "Remember our deal? Trust me. You will find a door, open it. Inside you will find an office full of file boxes."

::Wow:: Helena couldn't hide her surprise. ::How did you know that?::

"I have access from my system to maps, files, data from many places."

::Is that legal?.::

"Don't ask"

::I told you, you are kinky.::

Barbara frowned. She moved her head and typed at her keyboard. "I'm not kinky," she said. "That's not even an appropriate context for that term. Look for the file."

::I'm on it, don't be grouchy. It might be appropriate, depending on the data.:: Huntress answered, ignoring the long suffering sigh. ::What are you doing? I hear your keyboard.::

"Blocking alarm systems for your exit." Helena was very good, but she couldn't risk anyone seeing her or the guards surprising her. It was not nice to have the police department hunting you.

::I think we will be good if we rob a bank.::

"Forget it."

::A jewelry store?::

"Do I really have to remind you that we are the good guys?"

::But still I think it would be fun.::

"Mind on the mission. Look for box 345. It should be to your right, in the corridor."

::Could be fun. How the hell do you know where I am?::

"I'm the Oracle and Delphi helps."

::Oh, right… That Delphi is cool. Can you get inside the Pizza Hut system and order pizzas for free?::

"Yes is the answer to your first question and no to the second," Oracle said.

::I found it.::

"Perfect. Look for the file. It should be stored under the name of: ADF-1290. When you find it, scan it and get out."

::Got it.::


TBC