"Hi," the blonde smiled "How are you?"
"Hi," Helena smiled back "I'm glad to see you, what are you doing here?"
"I thought it would be a good idea know the environment where you work to understand you better." Quinzel eyed the brunette, she was simply… breathtaking with that thin top barely covering her belly and her tight black mini skirt.
"Well," Helena waved her hand to the left "this is my job."
"Very nice place." The blonde gave her the best of her smiles.
"Want to drink something?"
"Scotch will be fine." Quinzel crossed her arms over the counter observing the dark haired woman's movements.
"Sure." Helena turned her back to her "Our last appointment is on Friday."
"I know, and in some ways it makes me feel sad."
The brunette turned and extended the glass to the doctor. "Why?"
"Well, I really appreciate you. I hope we can keep being friends." Quinzel tasted her beverage.
"Sure." Helena said.
"Mmm... excellent."
"I told you, I'm good.".
"Yes, you always are. Can you talk or are you busy?"
"We can go to that table," Helena pointed to the bottom of the bar "I can take a few minutes."
The blonde walked over to the table the young woman had suggested. She sat and crossed her legs as Helena joined her with a glass of tonic water in hand.
"No alcohol?" Quinzel lifted an eyebrow straightening herself to let the brunette see the plunging neckline of her blouse…
"Working." Helena smiled noticing her movement. "Nice blouse."
"Thanks, I'm glad you like it." the doctor chuckled and fixed her eyes on her "I see you look different, happy."
"I am." Helena drank from her glass.
"Want to share something with me?"
"Barbara loves me." Helena said with a bright smile on her face.
That was bad and unexpected news. She was expecting Barbara to keep rejecting her. "Excuse me? Helena, I'm sure she is trying to confuse you, beware." Quinzel tried to keep her face from showing her discomfort.
"No, she isn't. She really loves me."
"She would say that but," Harleen crossed her fingers in front of her keeping all her attention on the brunette "She is straight and we don't know what will happen in the intimacy of a bedroom."
Helena smiled and lowered her head.
"Did I say something funny?" Quinzel looked for her eyes.
"We were together." Helena whispered fixing her eyes on her.
The blonde felt as if she had been punched in the stomach; the brightness in Helena's eyes was unarguably that of a woman in love. She swallowed and cleared her throat before asking "Do you mean… you and she…?"
"Yeah." The brunette bent her head smiling. "It was incredible. It was not just sex doctor." Helena whispered "It was something more, I have never felt like that, as I feel now."
Quinzel nodded feeling upset. This Barbara Gordon was really turning into a big pain in her ass. She swallowed a long sip of her scotch.
"And…" she coughed "How do you know she feels the same for you?"
"I just know it."
"I'm so glad for you Helena." Harleen said extending her hand and resting it over Helena's "but at the same time I'm worried for you. Barbara's personality seems to be unstable and I wouldn't like to know that she is just experimenting, trying something new with you."
"That never will happen."
"Well, you have been together just a few days? Weeks? We don't know Helena. A few weeks ago she was dating this Wade Brixton saying she loved him and now, she is dating you, saying she loves you. I just don't want her to hurt you again as she has been doing these last years." Quinzel took another sip of her drink. "I'm trying to be as neutral as possible to help you." She pressed Helena's hand "I would say it's my work, but this is beyond that, I'm interested in you because I see you as a friend more than a patient."
Helena took a deep breath. She didn't like her comments much, but Harleen's intentions were good. "Thanks."
"I hope she doesn't disappoint you," Quinzel withdrew her hand back "I hope she takes this relationship as seriously as you. We both know that Barbara has an excellent reputation". Quinzel fixed her eyes on the girl, she needed to create a vulnerable point in Helena's heart to make her feel that she was her only support. "She is known to be the perfect model of a daughter, a business woman and a professional. A perfect woman, so perfect that she is the one most bachelors in the city want."
Helena moved uncomfortably in her seat, she didn't like to hear her comments but they were very true. On the other hand she was known as the rebellious daughter of an eccentric millionaire that used to be in trouble, that used to have fast relationships with people of her own sex. She was not exactly the girl that any father would want for his daughter.
Quinzel smiled to herself knowing she had hit the point. She kept talking.
"You two are different. Do you think she will talk about you with her friends, family? Maybe she wants to keep your relationship as a secret. Have you talked with her about it?"
"Our relationship is just between us doctor."
"Please, call me Harleen please, Helena. We are friends."
Helena was a beautiful woman that she wanted for herself. She was also the dangerous crime fighter that had been screwing her plans, but knowing how to handle her, it would not be so difficult to guide her to the dark side.
"All right Harleen." Helena sighed "But I don't want to talk about me and Barbara. I just can tell you I'll respect any decision she takes."
"Whatever it is?" the blonde lifted an eyebrow quizzically.
"Yeah." Helena nodded
"I hope you understand I'm talking about this with you because I'm worried for you. I just want you to be happy."
"Thanks, I appreciate your worrying but as I told you, this is just between she and me."
"Just remember I'll always be there for you honey." Quinzel leaned and extended her hand to touch her cheek, "Remember it."
When Barbara arrived at Dark Horse bar it was full with people and it was hard to see because the lights were dim. She walked to the counter in the middle of the bar and looked around searching for her young partner.
She wanted to surprise her, the detail of flowers was so nice, especially knowing that they had talked about flowers before and Helena had always said it was corny and for old people, 'I'm not a flower person' she had said.
"What would you like to drink madam?" a barman asked.
"I'm looking for Helena Kyle."
"Oh, she is at the bottom of the bar." He pointed to his right "I guess with her new conquest."
"Conquest?"
"Yes, she is very popular with girls and men." He sighed "Very hot. Shame she prefers girls."
The redhead turned her eyes and found the brunette sat at the far corner. She felt her anger boil noticing a blonde caressing Helena's cheek. Her face was very close to her.
"I see, thanks." She mumbled.
The woman with Helena leaned and kissed her close to her mouth, the brunette didn't move and just smiled. She recognized the woman.
It was her therapist.
Doctor Harleen Quinzel.
What was she doing there?
She observed them for a few seconds in silence. Definitely Quinzel was being more than friendly, she was flirting with Helena and she didn't like it.
Decision made, she went toward the table.
"Helena." She greeted smiling at the brunette who turned surprised to see her.
Before she could say a word Barbara took her by her scalp and pulled her against her to steal a demanding kiss, taking all the brunette's air.
She moved back smiling noticing Helena's dazed expression. She turned to see the doctor. "Doctor Quinzel, what a nice surprise." She said.
"Do you know each other?" Helena asked surprised.
"Sure, who would not know the famous Barbara Gordon?" Quinzel couldn't hide her annoyance.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted something," the redhead moved her arm behind the brunette's back "but I wanted say thanks to Helena for the wonderful flower arrangement she sent to me today."
"Did you like it?" the brunette smiled looking her.
"Loved it."
"Well, I must go." Quinzel said standing up. "So, I'll leave you two alone to talk."
"It's too soon, why don't you stay?" Barbara asked.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I have an appointment."
"It's a shame, maybe we can go out to lunch some day."
"Sure, will be a pleasure." She looked at the brunette "Goodbye Helena."
"See you doctor."
Both observed the doctor walk to the stairs.
"Now, what was that?" Helena asked smiling at Barbara.
"She was flirting with you." Barbara said caressing her hair "I just wanted to let her know who is the boss."
"Boss?" Helena chuckled.
"No one messes with my girl, and besides, I didn't want to wait until tonight to say thanks." She took her hand between hers "I loved the flowers. You are so sweet, no matter how much you try to hide it."
"I'm not sweet."
"You are, and I love you for it."
"You love it?"
"Yes, I love you being corny." The redhead gazed to her right and noticed Quinzel was at the stairway looking them. It seemed the blonde didn't like it because she turned and hurried to the exit.
Her reaction was strange.
The brunette noticed her distraction. She turned but Quinzel already had gone.
"Something wrong?" she asked.
"What's going on between you and your therapist?" Barbara asked turning to look at the brunette.
"Nothing, why?"
"I saw her being very friendly with you."
"She just came to visit me." Helena said. "And she wanted to let me know she wanted to be my friend."
Barbara played with her tongue inside her cheek. Quinzel had asked many questions about Helena the day she had come to visit her, 'worried' for her patient, and now she was here. She had showed too much interest in her young companion and she didn't like it.
"I will never cheat on you Barbara." the brunette hurried to say.
Barbara chuckled and took her hand. She didn't want to worry her. "I know, but I have the impression she is flirting with you."
"Well… many people flirt with me…"
Barbara lifted her eyebrow quizzically.
"Hey, I'm hot. It's not my fault, you are very lucky."
"True…" Barbara chuckled.
"The therapy is almost over Barbara, I just have one more appointment and I'll not see her anymore."
"Kyle!" Leonard shouted at the bar.
"I'm sorry." Helena said. "I must go to work."
"I know, don't worry." Barbara moved her hand and rested it over the brunette's "You have a double shift right?"
"Yeah…" the brunette sighed. It was not nice, the idea of not being with the redhead that day.
"Don't worry, maybe we can have lunch tomorrow." The redhead caressed her cheek.
"Great." A big smile painted on Helena's face.
Barbara finished her work at Delphi, the activity in the city was calm. It was good to have a break. She took a warm bath and changed her clothes. She sat at her bed and stared at the phone on the night table.
She felt tempted to call Helena, she checked her watch, it was almost two in the morning. Helena finished her shift at one and surely now she would be sleeping.
She turned off the light and rested her head on her pillow, closing her eyes.
After a few seconds she turned the light back on, picked up the phone and dialed Helena's number. She felt a terrible need to hear her voice.
The sound of the line calling was long, after a few seconds her answering machine was heard. She sighed feeling disappointed.
"Hi" she whispered "I just wanted say good night. See you tomorrow. Love you."
She hung up the phone and turned off the lights.
She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. The memories of the wonderful night that they had shared filled her mind.
She could still feel Helena's hand touching her, the soft texture of her skin, the sweetness of her kisses. Helena was a human being filled with so much love to give, with a deep need to be loved. She had a lot to give.
It had been a magic moment.
Slowly she began to fall asleep.
Barbara could feel the young woman's body trembling under her touch. Discovering a woman's body had been a new experience for her, a pleasant and incredible experience that she wanted to feel again.
She could feel Helena's body blanketing her back, her arms wrapping around her torso and a warm mouth brushing her neck.
It felt so real.
Just that…
She gasped when she felt delicate fingers cupping one of her breasts and velvet skin and a nose rubbing against the shell of her ear.
She was not dreaming.
She turned her head and found her mouth trapped in a soft kiss.
"I needed to feel you again." the brunette whispered tracing Barbara's eyes with her lips.
"I was missing you too…" the redhead mumbled.
"Really?"
Barbara pulled the young woman's head down and trapped her lips again. She turned to wrap her arms around… a nude Helena.
"I see you come properly undressed." She chuckled.
"Did you mind?" Golden eyes sparkled in the darkness.
"No…" Barbara smiled at her letting her fingers trace Helena's back. "I love it."
Helena's lowered her head and kissed the redhead's neck "We need to undress you then."
"Do you need help?"
"Nah, I can do it alone." Helena moved back sitting on either side of Barbara's thighs and pulled her up to remove her top. Her night vision let her clearly admire Barbara's body, she was gorgeous. Sitting on her lap she trapped the older woman's lips, in a deep and intense caress. The feeling of her hard nipples against hers ignited her skin.
She cupped the back of the redhead's head with her hand to pull her deeper against her. She wanted to consume her, she was hers, she belonged to her.
"You are mine…" she growled pushing her slowly back to the mattress.
"I'm yours…." Barbara whispered before being lost in a wave of tender touches, kisses and an intense and powerful lovemaking.
The redhead closed the book and smiled at her friend. She was at the orphanage checking, as she did every month, all the details of the operation of the place.
"Excellent, things are going excellent." She said to the principal.
"Thanks miss Gordon."
"I hope we can get enough founds to support more children next year."
"Yes, the place is bigger now and we have the most comfortable rooms for the children. We had four adoptions last month."
"That is good." Barbara crossed her legs on her chair. "But I think we could increase it by starting a campaign to encourage people to adopt kids."
The redhead was at the orphanage's new building, she had needed to get founds to build this place after the old building had been consumed by the fire. She liked this place, it was much better than the older one.
It was brighter.
"How is the Christmas party going?"
"Fine, we are all ready for it. The kids will be really happy."
"I have the kid's presents coming. A friend is coming with them. She will arrive at any moment."
"That is good."
A child appeared inside the office crying. The principal of the orphanage kneeled and touched the little girl who was barely six years old and was covered in snow.
"Shelby, what happened honey?"
"They hit me with snow balls." The child cried.
"In fact." Barbara exhaled standing up her chair "I think the gifts just arrived."
"Excuse me?" the principal asked holding Shelby against her.
"I'll be right back." The redhead stood up and walked to the door.
"All right." Helena said crouching behind a small hill of snow. "Got it?"
"Why are your snow balls bigger than mine?" Justin protested looking at the brunette kneeling at his side. The kid was now seven years old. He was a cute blonde kid with deep blue eyes.
"Because I'm bigger." Helena said looking up to check if any kid was close.
"It's not fair." The kid moved his head "I can't hit anyone with these snowballs."
"Just shut up and keep your eyes open." Helena sat resting her back on the small pile of snow taking a snow ball between her hands.
"I have my eyes open. Why I would I close them?"
Helena rubbed her face. "It's a way to say 'be ready'"
"Why wouldn't I be ready?"
"Do you want me to kick you?"
"If you kick me I'll tell the principal."
Helena turned and looked over the small pile of snow. "Just be ready. Kids will be out soon, it's almost mid day."
"Okay." Justin said.
Suddenly a hard ball of snow hit the brunette's head.
"What the...?" she growled and when she turned another one hit her in the face.
Justin turned ready to throw his ball but when he saw who was standing up a few meters from them, he ran away.
Helena spat the snow out of her mouth. She cleaned her eyes and looked up.
Shit.
"Having fun hitting small kids?" Barbara asked with her hands on her hips.
"I was just showing..." the brunette looked around and noticed Justin had gone.
"Coward." She grumbled.
"Where are the toys you were bringing?"
"In the truck." Helena cleaned her pants and stood up. "I had a bit of free time and I thought it would be fun to throw some snowballs."
As soon as she finished her sentence another snowball hit her.
"Hey!" she shouted "What's wrong with you?"
"You made Shelby cry" Barbara said preparing another ball.
"Shelby? It was not me, it was Justin." The brunette picked up a snowball and threw it at the redhead who laughed avoiding it.
"You are bad." She said throwing another snowball.
"I'm not bad." Helena ran toward her and threw another ball.
Barbara ducked but before she could straighten up, the brunette held her by her waist.
"I got you."
The redhead laughed hard. "You don't."
Barbara turned surprising the brunette and threw her to the floor, but the brunette had time to sweep Barbara's feet and the redhead fell over her on her back still laughing.
"That was rude." Helena complained holding her back.
"I know." Barbara chuckled winced holding her side.
"Did I hurt you?" Helena hurried to ask sitting up. She knew the redhead was still healing.
"I'm fine, don't worry." The older woman rested her head on the brunette's gut. "I don't remember when the last time I hit some one with a snowball was."
"Thirty seconds ago." The brunette said looking at her down.
"It was fun. I should do it more often."
"I do it often and you scold me."
"Because you hit small kids." Barbara turned her head to see her.
"Not too small. I just hit the ones that are 3 ft or more tall."
The redhead lifted her hand and touched her cheek. "You are so beautiful."
Helena moved her hand and caressed her hair. She loved her so much and she couldn't avoid feeling a deep fear of losing her and being alone again.
"Barbara," she asked "have you found any trace of the guy that attacked you?"
"No."
"I'm worried. What do you think he wanted?"
"I don't have any idea."
"You told me he said: 'Greetings from an admirer miss Gordon. See you in hell'." Helena sighed heavily staring at her "What if he tries to attack you again? He knows where you live."
"The Clock Tower is a very safe place." Barbara smiled at her.
"I know, but he will try to attack you when you don't expect it."
"Are you worried?"
"How could I not?" the brunette whispered caressing her cheek "I don't want to lose you, you are my world."
"That's not going to happen."
"You can't be sure."
"I have been thinking about that Helena." Barbara admitted looking up to the sky "but I can't find a clue. No one has called or sent a threatening message. It's just… weird. I'm disconcerted."
"We need to find him before he finds you again."
"I know." Barbara sat up slowly and rested her arms on her knees "I'm thinking, first someone tried to kidnap Helena Kyle, later another guy tried to kill Batgirl and Huntress and later someone tried to kill me. All in less than a year."
"Do you think it could be the same person?" Helena asked.
"My question is: Does someone know who we are?"
"I don't think so. Why did they try to kidnap me and kill you? And why did they try to kill us as crime fighters? It must be different people."
"Our fan club is growing."
"I don't like this fan club." The brunette made a face.
"We need to work on it at night." Barbara bit her thumb "This is not good."
"I agree."
"Hel..." Barbara bit her lips and looked her "Christmas will be next week."
"I know." The brunette nodded.
"What do you usually do that day?"
"Nothing." The brunette lifted her leg and rested her arm over her knee looking at the house. "After mom died I didn't see the sense of it."
"I..." the redhead paused, "I always spend that day with dad."
The brunette lowered her head. She understood.
"Don't worry, it's okay if you want spend that day with him." She forced a smile that didn't fool the other woman "As I told you it's a day that I don't usually celebrate."
Barbara fixed her eyes on the sadness that Helena's face couldn't hide. She took her hand.
"I wanted to ask you if you want to come with me."
Blue eyes blinked "With you?"
"Why not?"
"I'm okay if you don't want to tell anyone about us."
"Who told you I don't want that?" green eyes observed her with curiosity.
"Well..." Helena mumbled "You have a reputation to take care of and... I'm... I'm not the girl with the best reputation in the city." The brunette chuckled nervously.
"Hel?" Barbara asked trying to know what was inside her head.
"Barbara, you are the perfect girl for him, for everyone... I don't want to ruin your reputation. It's okay, I understand."
Long fingers cupped the brunette's cheek. Helena lifted her eyes and found Barbara's green eyes fixed on her.
"I feel proud of you." Barbara whispered "I don't feel ashamed about what you are or what you were. I love you as you are."
"But your dad... will die if he knows, three weeks ago you were dating Wade and now you are dating a girl… me... you will kill him. Maybe we should take things slowly with him."
Barbara chuckled she was right. "Leave it all in my hands... I want you go with me."
"Are you sure?"
"Hel," Barbara asked with soft expression "Why do you doubt me? Sometimes you ask me questions you never had before…" the redhead kept silent a few seconds. Helena was not a person that shared her thoughts with people easily, but she had the feeling someone was putting those ideas in the brunette's head.
"Is not that, it's… well…" Helena shrugged her shoulders.
"You have always been a very secure person what's going on now?"
"Is not that, but I stopped to think what people will say when they know you… we…"
Barbara's answer was to press her lips against her's and give her a soft kiss. Helena felt lost under the marvelous touch and kissed her back. When the redhead moved back she smiled noticing Helena's eyes were drowsy and gold.
"Come with me, I want to share Christmas with you and we need to get him used to seeing us together."
"Okay." Helena smiled.
"Maybe we can go out to lunch."
"Oh… Can we do it early?" Helena stood up cleaning her pants "I have my last appointment with my doctor today."
"Sure. Let's go and give those toys to the kids."
"Not to Justin, he ran like a coward." She gave her hand to Barbara and helped her to stand up.
"Stop being childish, let's go."
"So you are happy now." The blonde said writing some notes in her notebook.
"Yes." Helena smiled pacing around the room, she couldn't hide the happiness she felt inside her.
"You're still dating Barbara." Quinzel drew a woman with a bat-cowl and cape.
"Yes."
The blonde nodded and then drew flames around her. Yeah, it would be great to burn that damned Batgirl.
"Have you stopped to think on what I asked you?" she asked lifting her head and resting her head on her index finger.
"About?" Helena turned to see her.
"About her talking to people about you."
"She will do it."
"How you know that?"
"She told me. She feels proud of me and she told me she loves me as I am."
"And have you stopped to think about the dangers around her? The possibi…?"
"I have thought about everything." Helena interrupted her "And I don't care, I want to face everything with her."
Quinzel cleared her throat. "Good." She returned to her notebook and drew a black cat on it and a foot kicking it. "I see you trust in her."
"Yes."
"And how about you?" the blonde cocked her head.
"About me?"
"Do you trust in you? In your feelings? You have been a woman that doesn't like long term relationships. Do you think this is not just a tantrum?"
"No. I really love her." The brunette looked the clock at the wall. "Time is over."
Harleen moved her notebook to the side and stood up.
"Yeah, we are finished."
"So…" Helena grinned at her "I'm free now."
Quinzel smiled at her. "I hope you let me keep being your friend."
"Sure." Helena nodded lowering her head.
"And I hope too, I have been helpful."
"You were." Helena looked through her shaggy bangs. She leaned and hugged her.
Quinzel hugged back and closed her eyes smelling her, enjoying the contact.
"Thanks." The brunette mumbled.
"It was a pleasure Helena." Quinzel whispered close to her ear "You can ask me anything you want."
Helena moved back and nodded. She walked to the door and exited the office.
Quinzel went to her bar and poured a glass of scotch and drank it looking through her window. She needed to find a way to keep Helena at her side and Barbara Gordon was definitely not helping in her purposes. She moved the liquor making circles with her hand.
Helena had fear, a deep fear of losing Barbara, this fear had made her think she hated her.
Love means pain, especially when you lose the person you love, Helena didn't want to love any one for fear of losing that person.
Barbara Gordon was Batgirl, a crime fighter always on the side of law. She was against murders or injustice.
An idea came to her mind.
Helena always talked about how much she wanted to find the man that had killed her mother and take revenge on her own.
What if she took Helena to that edge?
Batgirl would surely never forgive her for it.
But… how to take Helena to that edge?
tbc
