Responsibility
"Blood in the Water"
Gotham Heights
With each weakened beat of her heart, blood surged from Diana's wound. The surprise attack by Lashina had her reeling. As the dagger started down for the killing blow, all those years of training automatically kicked in. Diana's hand somehow came up and caught Lashina's wrist, stopping the dagger. Lashina growled in frustration, but pressed her advantage. Her powerful fingers dug into Diana's throat and pushed her under the water, holding her down.
It had happened so fast that in Diana's already weakened state, she couldn't react fast enough to inhale before she was submerged. The need for air screamed through her mind. Her eyes went wild as the primal fear of drowning kicked in and she thrashed about. Still she held Lashina's blade at bay.
"Die."
Lashina was a trained warrior as well; only her training was as a killer. Her attack was perfect, from stunning Diana with the electrical charge to the first wound. Her dagger's aim was true, straight to the heart. Moment by moment, Diana's blood lose shifted the balance of power in Lashina's favor. The poison tipped blade continued to move closer to Diana's throat, as Lashina held her under. The Amazon is already dead, Lashina thought, knowing the poison was already spreading through her system. Still she wanted Diana to see only her as her life slipped away.
"Tell them in the afterlife, Princess, that it was Lashina that sent you."
Some of her precious air escaped Diana's lungs, the bubbles bursting up through the blood tinged water. Dimly she realized she'd been poisoned, as a burning sensation spread through her muscles. Still she fought on, even as her life seemed to be slipping away. Images seemed to flash through her mind, Themyscira, her Mother's gentle smile, playfully wrestling with Donna as children, lifting off the ground in flight for the first time, on and on until the image of Kal kissing her came. That image stopped and then like a film caught in a projector seemed to burn and darken until there was only blackness. Love and death intertwined as her life slipped away.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
The voice wasn't human, shaking the ground like some elemental force. In the next moment, Lashina found herself tossed away like a ragdoll. Bruce and Clark had arrived. Bruce scanned the scene; his eyes looked in horror at the blood filled pool. Before he could take a step, Clark was at Diana's side. No, Bruce thought, this wasn't Clark, this was Kal-El, an adult Kryptonian in all his power. His voice was like that of an angry God rattling the very foundation of the world. He moved with such speed the eye couldn't follow. Lashina, a New God was cast away like a leaf in the wind. When she tried to recover, to attack again, twin beams of fire engulfed her blasting her through the backyard fence.
Bruce rushed to the side of the pool and dove in. Clark was cradling Diana in his arms as he turned to Bruce.
"Oh God, Bruce, she's barely breathing!"
As he helped get her from the blood red water, Bruce looked at his friend again. This was Clark, all too human, almost lost in panic over Diana's condition. It suddenly hit Bruce that Clark was in love with Diana. He hadn't even realized it until this moment. Pushing that shattering thought away, he went into action, signaling the Tower of a medical emergency.
The few moments it took to transport them up, seemed like an eternity to Clark. Tears came to his eyes as he gazed down at Diana's lifeless body.
"Please, no, not now, not now, stay with me, Diana, stay with me. I love you so much and I was too afraid to tell you. Stay with me, Diana, I love you,' Clark frantically whispered to her, kissing her cold forehead as he cradle her in his arms.
The tingle of the transporter started and then they disappeared. Bruce was about to follow, but there was still Lashina to think about. That was quickly solved by the sound of a boom tube opening. He rushed over just as she disappeared. Signaling Jonn, he transported up to the Tower.
The Watchtower
You never truly know about an organization or a business until it faces a crisis. In extreme situations the truth always has a way of coming out. The Justice League was made up of a motley band of very different individuals. At times they could be as goofy, childish, funny, silly, just as anyone else, but in a crisis they transformed into heroes. From the moment the news of the attack came in they had snapped into action. Those with medical training were already waiting for her. Those without medical training offered to help in anyway they could. Nothing was too small or trivial for any member if it would help.
It was one of their own in trouble. No sacrifice was too big or too small to help her. That it was Diana sent a ripple of fear through the entire station. She was part of the trinity and in many ways the most admired. Many of the younger female members had always looked to her as a mentor or role model. The way she carried herself in even the short time she'd been out in the world seemed to be an example to everyone. In some ways she was the Princess, royalty, not just on Themyscira, but on the Watchtower as well.
As Clark materialized on the platform, Wally was standing waiting. A man that was all business replaced the boyish, fun loving Wally that everyone knew.
"I can get her there faster,' he said simply. He didn't need to say anything else and Clark shifted her limp body into his arms. He was gone in the next moment, followed by Clark. Bruce materialized a second later and stepped down from the platform.
"She's in the infirmary,' Jonn said. "I sensed nothing from her."
"She's in bad shape, Jonn,' Bruce replied. "Lashina did her work well."
"I have confidence in her."
"Just the same, you should contact her mother,' Bruce said in a grim voice as he hurried out of the room.
Infirmary
The corridors were cleared and the doors held open as Wally raced Diana to the infirmary. Dr. Light, The Atom, Dr. Midnight, Dr. Fate, Hourman and any other member that had medical training were waiting. They were all visibly shaken when they saw Diana. Her skin was pale, her body limp and lifeless. Clark stood hovering over her, holding her hand in his.
"We need to get started, Superman,' Ray Palmer said. "We'll let you know as soon as possible."
"I'm not leaving her,' Clark stated.
"You can't stay,' Dr. Light said. "Please, it's urgent."
"I'm not leaving her,' he repeated.
"Clark, let them do what they do best,' Bruce said, placing his hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked at Bruce, tears in his eyes.
"I can't leave her like this, Bruce, I just can't."
"We can wait right outside, you'll be able to see everything."
"Come on, Big Blue, it's for the best,' Wally added. Clark knew they were right, but he didn't want to let go of her. He finally leaned down and kissed her, whispering so low only she could hear.
"I love you, Princess, you can't leave me now that I've finally found you."
He moved back hesitantly, unwilling to leave yet knowing he had to, for her. He barely felt Bruce and Wally put their arms around him and usher him from the room. The others were already moving into action.
The Watchtower – Hallway
Fear and Anxiety
Clark sat alone on a bench just outside the room. It had been over an hour since they started. It felt like an eternity to him. Others had tried to offer sympathy, but seemed to understand at one look that he wanted to be alone.
He felt completely and utterly helpless. The grip of fear seemed to close in all around him. This was his fault. He had been the one that wanted to give Lashina second chance. Diana was paying for that mistake. If he lived a thousand years, he would never get the image of her limp, lifeless body out of his mind. Silence tears rolled down his cheeks, as he held his head in his hands. Clark felt like he was collapsing in on himself, pain lancing through his heart and his world spinning out of control.
Once the awful thought that she might not make it flashed through his mind, he couldn't push it away. He repeated over and over to himself that she was stronger than this; she would make it, yet that horrible thought remained. He had watched helplessly, as Jonathon Kent died before his eyes. He loved him dearly, but this felt different. That was a child's love of a parent, while this was a man's love for a woman.
Only he'd never told her until he held her in his arms in the pool. Fresh tears came as he realized what a coward he'd been this whole time. He'd been afraid to say it, even once to her. It just made it worse that he'd known he was in love with her for some time now. One excuse after another seemed to stifle the words on his lips. Now there was a chance she would never know, never hear him say what he desperately wanted to say to her.
He glanced up, using his x-ray vision to see, but had to turn away. It sickened him to see her like that, cut open, blood everywhere.
I'm sorry, Diana, I love you, but this is my fault.
The Watchtower – Computer Lab
The door slid open and Zatanna walked in. She knew he would be here.
"I just heard the news, how is she doing,' she asked.
"Too soon to tell,' Bruce replied, not looking up from the terminal.
"What are you doing in here?"
"I wanted to make sure Lashina is really gone. I'm scanning for her signature over the entire globe."
Zatanna came up and stood next to him. She glanced at the screen but was more worried about him.
"Anything, 'she asked.
"No."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm fine."
His voice was clipped and lacking in emotion.
"I know you care for her, Bruce,' Zatanna began, but he cut her off with a simple statement of fact.
"He's in love with her."
"What?"
"Clark, he's in love with Diana."
"How do you know,' she asked.
Bruce finally turned away from the monitor and looked at Zee. For a moment the calm, cool exterior slipped.
"I saw it in his eyes, Zee,' he said so low it was almost a whisper. "The way he held her, everything just screamed that he was in love with her."
"Oh." She found was the only word she could say.
"I'm guessing, she's in love with him, too."
"I'm sorry, Bruce,' Zatanna offered, putting her hand on his shoulder. He gave her a rare, sad smile and put his hand on hers.
"No, it's for the best," he offered.
"Don't,' Zatanna replied. "Don't pretend it doesn't hurt, not with me, Bruce. I know you have feelings for Diana."
"Yes, I do, but not the kind of feelings I saw from Clark, Zee,' he said.
"What do you mean?"
"It was a shock seeing him like that, but I've had time to think about it,' Bruce began. "There is an attraction between Diana and I, I admit, but it never really went further than that. Some flirting, a kiss, but never anything more."
"That's because you never let it,' she replied. "Maybe it would have been more if you'd let her in."
"Maybe,' he admitted. "Somehow I think it would have ended badly if we had. Perhaps I always knew I wasn't the one for her."
Zatanna hugged him and Bruce found himself returning it.
"I'm sorry, Bruce."
"Don't be, what matters now is that she recovers, that's the most important thing."
"What do you mean,' Zee asked. She leaned back to look at him, but didn't take her arms from around his neck. "Of course she's going to make it. She's Wonder Woman, she has to."
"I thought that too until I saw her today,' he replied, the pain evident in his voice. "There was so much blood, Zee. I don't know how anyone could survive that or fight Lashina off like Diana was doing. I hope I'm wrong, I desperately hope that, but I can't get that image of all the blood out of my mind."
"She'll make it, Bruce, she just has to,' Zee whispered, hugging him again.
The Watchtower – Cafeteria
Dinah was sitting alone in the back nursing a cup of coffee. Her thoughts were split. Part of her was worried about Diana but another part was still unsettled about what had happened to her earlier.
"How you holding up?"
She had been so lost in her own thoughts; she hadn't heard Ollie come in.
"I'm all right,' she offered.
"Are you sure,' he asked, sitting down next to her.
"Yeah, I'm worried about Diana, but I know she'll pull through."
"I hope so too,' he said. "I wasn't talking about her, though. Question told me about what happened with you earlier."
"What? That Plastic Man, of all people, had to stop me from killing that guy?"
"Would you have killed him,' Ollie asked.
Dinah started to answer automatically no, but then stopped.
"I don't know,' she finally admitted, not just to him but to herself.
"That's not good, Di."
"Please, Ollie, not a lecture, not now,' she said.
"Not a lecture, Dinah, just a reminder,' he replied. "And this isn't personal, so don't think its sour grapes. I think I understand now what you've been trying to tell me, I do. It's heady stuff to finally find your place, where you fit and what you want to do. I just want to warn you to be careful, okay? As dedicated as Bruce is, there's a line he never crosses. He knows if you cross that line once, you're no better than those you are supposed to be fighting."
"You think I almost crossed that line today,' she asked.
"Don't you?"
"Yeah,' she admitted. "I've been sitting here thinking about it. I wanted to kill him, I really did, Ollie. He's scum and the world wouldn't miss him, but I know I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."
"Then it's a good thing someone stopped you,' he offered.
"Yeah, I suppose, but why did it have to be Plastic Man?"
He laughed at this and she blushed and then joined him.
"We all have our crosses to bare, I guess he's yours,' Ollie said. "Why don't we go see how Diana's doing?"
"Okay,' Dinah replied. As they both stood up, she reached out and stopped him. "Thanks, Ollie, I appreciate it."
"We're still friends, Dinah, that's never going to change."
The Watchtower – Monitor Room
Jonn stood at the controls as Queen Hippolyta and General Phillipus beamed in. Fear and worry were plain on their faces.
"Where is she,' Hippolyta immediately said. "Where is my daughter?"
"She's still in surgery, your Majesty,' Jonn replied.
"I have to see her, please,' Hippolyta asked.
"Of course."
"Tell me what happened and how my daughter is doing,' Hippolyta said as they headed out the door.
The Watchtower
It had been almost three hours since Clark had brought Diana in. At first everyone tried to go about their business, but as the time dragged on they slowly drifted to the hallway outside the infirmary. It just felt like the place to be. Some offered silent prayers for her, while others quietly chatted, too nervous to remain quiet. They all gave Clark his space, somehow knowing there was nothing they could say to him that would make this better.
He was so lost in his own thoughts; he didn't even hear Kara come rushing over to him until she was in his arms.
"I got here as soon as I could,' she gasped, hugging him so hard it would have crushed anyone else. "I didn't want to believe it was real. It can't be."
"I wish it wasn't,' he barely managed to say, holding her close.
"I'll kill that Lashina for this, I promise,' Kara whispered, anger boiling inside her.
"It's my fault, Kara."
'No, no, it's not, Clark," Kara replied.
"I'm the one that brought Lashina to the house,' he whispered. "I was so stupid and naïve. Diana suffered because of my decision."
"She'll be already, Clark, you'll see,' Kara tried to her best to reassure him, even as tears started to roll down her face. She already knew from the sound of his voice how bad it must be. A tremor of fear went through her at the very thought.
A commotion made her turn to see Queen Hippolyta striding towards the infirmary. She stepped inside and moved over to the glass that separated her from her Diana. Hippolyta's breath caught in her throat as she saw her daughter on the operating table. Her child, her moon and stars, looked so pale, so lifeless. It was every mother's nightmare that something would happen to her child and Hippolyta was no different.
In the moment, she wasn't Queen or Amazon she was just a mother. That was her baby, her child that she had held in her arms and poured all the love in her heart into lying there. This was worse than a nightmare, such an unspeakable horror to see. She can't die; I will not allow it, Hippolyta thought. I must do something, save her somehow. The Healing Island is where she should be, Epione will know how to save my baby.
The other thought that came to her mind brought with it an almost all consuming anger. Someone was responsible for this happening. Someone had done this to her child. Diana had been living in those quant suburbs, how could this happen there? Hippolyta turned to the General, her mind made up.
"Phillipus contact Epione and tell her we are bringing Diana. Let her know the situation is grave and all her skills will be needed."
"My Queen, perhaps it would be wiser to allow the Princess to remain here,' the General suggested.
"You heard the Martian, General, while they have stopped the bleeding, poison eats away at her still. We will transport her directly to the Healing Island where she will get the preeminent treatment by those that know her best."
Phillipus could see there as no arguing with the Queen and finally bowed and exited the room. Hippolyta turned back to the window and felt a tear roll down her face as the sight of her daughter. She wiped it away and steeled herself. Turning she walked back into the hallway and looked at the gathered heroes.
"You say Lashina did this to my daughter,' Hippolyta demanded of Jonn.
"Yes."
"Why was a wild dog from Apokolips allow to get this close to her?"
No one seemed to know what to say to this and then Clark stood up.
"I'm responsible for Lashina being there, your Majesty,' he said. "I take full responsibility for what has happened, no one else."
Hippolyta stood facing him, shocked by his statement. Part of her could see the anguish he was in, but another part saw only the one responsible for her daughter's condition. This later part slapped his face.
"I believed you cared for her, yet you let this happen." Her voice was choked with emotion. "I'm taking her from the place back to where she will be safe with those that truly love her!"
The Queen glared at him for a moment and then spun on her heel and stormed away. Clark just stood there, he had no fight in him. Dimly he was aware of Kara hugging him, but all he could see was the look of betrayal in Hippolyta's eyes.