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Raine sat in the waiting room of the doctors. For the past month she had been feeling tired, more tired and then she usually does, she has a rash that had spread all over her body and there was lump at the base of her throat. She would wake up from a nightmare, soaked in sweat. Bruce had finally got her to go to the doctors with the help of Alfred. Raine could hear the whispers of the other patients.
"Why is she here? Is she pregnant?" A lady asked her friend who shrugged "could be" she replied. Logan, who was with Raine for support glared at the gossiping women. "This is a doctor's office not a hair salon, so mind your own business." He snapped. A lot of the other patients clapped quietly.
"Miss Winters?" The doctor called out. Raine stood up and followed the doctor to her examination room. "I'll wait right here." Logan said as she walked past him.
Inside the examination room the doctor got a good look at Raine and he could tell that she was exhausted and not feeling well. "Let me have a look." The doctor looked at the lump and then the rash. And then said. "Anything else?"
"I have been having nightmares and I wake up soaked in sweat." Raine said. "Those are the symptoms of cancer… Hodgkin's Lymphoma…"
Raine went back to Wayne manor where Bruce and Alfred and the rest of my family were waiting including Mr Fox. I broke down in tears, my legs gave way. "The doctor thinks it might be cancer." Logan spoke for me as he held me tightly in his arms.
"They had to take needle biopsies from the lump and then they did a cat scan and do some blood tests. They will call me when they get the results back." Logan informed them. John raced over to her and took her in her arms. Raine cried in her father's arms.
Bruce felt helpless and he didn't like it. His girlfriend might have cancer, and she is scared as hell, and there is not a darn thing he can do. He wants to do more for her than just comfort her, he wants to take make it all better. Bruce looked at Ethen silently asking him if he could do anything but Ethen shook his head. Bruce knew that Ethen felt helpless as well. He wanted- they both wanted to punch something.
Just then Superman and Wonder Woman came in. Superman must've used his super hearing… because he looked upset as well. Upset and worried. Superman took Raine in his arms. Bruce watched her fingers trace the 'S' on his chest. The 'S' on his chest was his people's symbol for hope.
Wonder Woman stepped up and placed a gentle hand on Raine's shoulder and said in a gentle voice, "you don't need help, you are going to live through it. You are going to survive."
A week has past and Raine got massive support from people she didn't know and even bigger support from her family and friends. Raine was playing on her electric keyboard piano when her father came in with her brother's behind her. The tears in their eyes said it all.
"Honey, you have cancer. Hodgkin's Lymphoma." Her father couldn't hide the emotion in his voice. Raine collapsed to the ground and screamed. Just then Superman and Flash came in. Logan was on the phone calling Bruce.
"Logan." Bruce said in Batman's voice. He was patrolling the city. (Raine told him to.)
"It's what the doctor said" Was all Logan said.
"Alfred, did you hear that?" Bruce asked. "Yes, I did. I'm on my way there now." Alfred replied. Bruce could hear Alfred start the car.
Bruce waited in Raine's hospital room with Raine's father, uncle and brothers. Clark and Alfred stood at the back of the room. The doctor even asked Clark to leave because. "He's here as a friend, not a reporter." Bruce said from his chair. Barry and Diana were there was well but there were too many people in the room so they waited at the Watch Tower.
They have been waiting for hours when the surgeon came in. He went up to John. "The operation went well. They are just stabilizing her right now. And there wasn't just one, but multiple tumours. She is very lucky to have noticed it early…" Just then doctors and nurses wheeled Raine. "I'll go and tell the others." Clark said whispered gently placing a hand on Bruce's shoulder. Bruce nodded. "Thank you Clark."
John stopped Clark on the way and whispered. "Thank you." Clark smiled and shook John's hand. "She's a wonderful person, and she is a strong woman, she will get through this." John smiled and nodded.
Alfred went with Clark to the waiting room. Alfred didn't say anything because Clark said it all. Just then the doctor said. "Two at a time in the ICU, please. I'm going to have to ask you all to leave. I will come out and get you."
They all left the room. Bruce was being more quiet than usual. Ryan went up to him and wrapped his arms around Bruce's neck and squeezed. Bruce wrapped his arms around the boy. The doctor came out and told them what is going to happen when she wakes up. "She will be starting Chemotherapy for eight months and two months of Radiotherapy. She will be tired for a very long time. She can't over do it." He told John who nodded.
"Can I go and see her?" John asked. "Of course. But just two at a time and family members only at this time. I'm afraid." The doctor clapped John on the shoulder in a sign of friendship. "Thank you Andy" John said.
"Call me if you need anything." The doctor left to see his other patients. Ian turned to Logan and said, "You go with your dad. I'll take Ryan in after Jason and Ethan." Logan nodded.
John and Logan went in and saw Raine laying in the bed with tubes coming out of her. John couldn't hold it in anymore. He wished he had to the power to take all of this away from her and give to himself so she wouldn't have to go through all this pain… He grabbed her hand and held it to his cheek. "I'm sorry baby girl, I wish I could take it all away." He whispered. And he broke down. Logan was trying to hold it in.
"Dad, she will get through this. Knowing the truth about our mother was the thing that hurt her the most. Compared to that, this is nothing. Dad, Rai is the strongest out of all of us combined." Logan said. John smiled a sad smiled and nodded in agreement. Logan sat on the other side of the bed and took her other hand. "You are going to get through this, little sister, you hear me? And we will all be there." Logan said.
Logan sat there for half an hour and then he said. "You stay here, I'll go and get Ethen." John wasn't going to leave his daughter's side, not to a second. A minute later Ethen came in. He raced over to Raine and clutched her hand. "I want to heal you, but I can't heal this. I'm sorry. But I know you can make it." He said.
"Ethen, she knows that your healing powers are limited." John said, trying to sooth his son.
The whole family went in and saw Raine. Ryan wouldn't let go of Bruce so Bruce took him to see Raine. Bruce sat down in the seat that John was sitting on just minutes. Bruce took Raine's hand in his gently and used the other to sooth the sobbing boy. "You know Raine, better than anyone, she will pull through." He whispered.
"I can't sense her; I can't feel her. She's not there…" Ryan cried in his chest. Bruce pulled the boy closer. All the while he was holding back his own tears.
Raine was released from the hospital and she asked the Nurse who was with her the whole time she was in hospital, to stay with her during the treatment. Raine will pay her.
"You don't have to pay me, my daughter who is your age had cancer and she survived." Moria protested, but Raine insisted. "I will pay you the same pay as you would in get paid working in the hospital." After that Raine was too tired to argue anymore.
Raine started Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy almost straight away.
Bruce was with her every day and so were her family. With her boyfriend, her brothers, and her father and uncle at her side. Every time she got home from the hospital she was exhausted. Bruce would sneak in at night and check on her before and after patrol. And then the next day he would be there right next to her.
One day Raine had enough energy to take on the reporters, Bruce did most of the talking. "As you probably have found out, Raine and I have been in and out of hospital for the past few months… No, Raine is not pregnant…" Bruce paused and looked down to Raine who nodded her head. "Raine has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, it is a form of cancer that attacks the immune system. She is doing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy right now."
Raine could see the concern expressions on a lot of media's faces. "How is she doing now?" A voice asked. Raine and Bruce saw Lois Lane standing in the front. Raine grabbed a hold on Bruce's arm for support and stood up. "I'm getting here slowly, I'm sore from all the Chemotherapy and that. I caught it early, so we were able to treat it early." Raine sat back down in her chair.
"Was it scary?" Another reporter asked. Raine nodded her head. "But with my family and Bruce and friends behind me all the way, I had the courage to face anything." Raine reached in to her pocket of her jacket and pulled out the 'S' symbol Logan had made for her and clutched it to her chest.
"I want to thank the doctors and nurses at the Gotham General hospital for their hard work. It is sad and heartbreaking that the number of people who go through those doors sick and injured… And the only thing they can do is their best. They are not miracle workers, as much as they want to be. And it's the same for all the hospitals around the world."
Raine was exhausted when she got home.
Ten months later Raine had completed her Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, but she still wasn't one hundred percent. She looked at the get well soon cards that were given to her from GCPD and Barbara, and the Justice League and Young Justice League. And there were even more get well cards from fans and the people from Wayne Enterprise. Her favourite card was from Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman. It said, "you are a survivor." And it gave her an idea for a song…
Raine had two songs in her mind. One will be about Bruce and the other one is about surviving. And that made her think…
"Miss Winters, how are you feeling?" Alfred asked as he came in to the living room of her apartment. Raine smiled at him and replied. "I'm feeling a lot better. I feel even more better now that you are here."
"Can I make you anything?" Alfred asked. "No thank you Alfred, but help yourself to a cup of coffee though."
Alfred poured them both a cup of coffee and went brought them over to her. Raine smiled in thanks as she took one. "Bruce had to go to a meeting, but he will be over straight after the meeting. I will go and pick him up later."
"May I go with you. I want to see Mr Fox." Raine asked. "Of course." Alfred replied.
"May I ask what you are working on?" Alfred asked in his usual polite manor.
"A couple of songs. And a charity for cancer. I was thinking as I looked through all the get well cards and gifts I received during my treatment… I was thinking about the other patients who have cancer, who are going through their treatments, those who have survived… and those who haven't."
Alfred leaned in and kissed the side of her head like a father would do. "You have a kind heart." Raine smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. Then another idea for a song came to her…
Bruce was surprised to see Raine walking in to the office, but he was happy to see her never the less. He kissed her gently on the cheek just as Lucius Fox came out. "Miss Winters, how wonderful to see you again. You look much better the last time I saw you." He greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Raine hugged him back.
During the months and months of treatment Raine lost her beautiful long hair and a lot of her strength, and the colour in her face, she had lost a lot of weight… Her hair is growing back; it is long enough to style now. She got back the weight she lost, and her strength is coming back, not a hundred percent back but it is back. She can do normal things again and she doesn't get tired as easily anymore.
"I won't be able to return to work for a while…" Raine said sheepishly. "Don't worry about that. I have everything under control. You need to concentrate on getting one hundred percent better." Lucius replied.
It took Raine well over a year to fully recover. She started her own charity for cancer. She went to see other cancer patients and sang a little for them, and she brought her dogs with her. One day just as she was about to go when there was a knock coming from her balcony. She looked up and saw Superman. She quickly went to let him in. "I'm just about to go to the hospital for a check-up and see the other patients." She told him.
"I know, I want to help and cheer the children up." Superman replied and Raine smiled. "I'll meet you there."
Raine's check-up went smoothly. Raine called Bruce to tell him that the check-up went well. And she went in to the Children's section of the hospital and they all cheered when they saw her. "Can you gather the children in to the play room. I have a surprise for them." Raine asked the doctor who smiled and nodded.
Raine found Superman hiding in the alley away from eye sight. "Keep your ears open, as soon as I say I have a surprise to the children, wait a minute or two and then knock on the window. Okay?" Raine said.
"Good plan." Superman agreed. Raine smiled and then went back in to the hospital. In the playroom of the children's ward, the children and their parents were there waiting. "Can you sing us a song?" A child asked.
"I just had a check-up and I don't feel that I can sing right now, but I have a surprise for all of you." Raine paused and right on cue there was tap on the window… Raine went over to the window and pulled back the curtains to reveal Superman. The children squealed in delight. The expressions on their faces and their parent's faces were priceless. "Should I let him in to say hello?" Raine asked.
"YES!" The children shouted. With a shrug Raine opened the window and Superman came in. "He appeared on my balcony just as I was about to leave wanting to come and say hello." Raine told them. The children who didn't have tubes coming out of their bodies ran over to the man of steel and hugged him. Superman went over to the children who did.
Raine sat back with the doctors and nurses as Superman talked to the children and parents. Superman barely managed to keep his emotions in check when some of the parents told him that some of the children a terminally ill and don't have much time to live.
When the children tired themselves out the doctors and nurses and their parents put them to bed to rest, Superman and Raine went to visit the other patients in the hospital. And then after that Superman picked Raine up and flew her home.
"Thank you for letting me tag along with you. It felt good to cheer the children up." Superman said as they entered Raine's apartment. "It is all we can do for them… Bruce is working on a cure along with Barry. And thank you for coming. You have brought those children some life back, and with the other patients in the hospital."
"Oh Bruce is having a party tomorrow night for charity, will you and Diana be there?" Raine suddenly remembered. "I've been working on some songs." She added.
"We'll be there. We wouldn't miss it." Clark smiled. And with a hug goodbye he was gone.
"Now Raine, you will tell me if it gets much for you won't you?" Bruce asked as she came out of the bathroom. "For third time yes." Raine replied with a fake sigh of annoyance, she was grinning at him. Bruce smiled and offered his arm. Raine smiled back and threaded her arm through his and let him lead her to the party. They said hello to everybody and then Alfred went up on to the stage. He clinked on a glass in front of a microphone to get everyone's attention.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, Master Wayne and Miss Winters would like to say a few words…" Alfred said and Bruce and Raine walked up to the stage as the guests clapped. Raine noticed Clark Kent and Diana Prince in the audience they both raised their drinks in greeting. Raine smiled and nodded in her own greeting.
"Thank you for coming here. Raine and I hope you are all having a good time. As you all know this is a charity for a cure for cancer and better equipment for the hospitals. Raine and I have been trying to get people to go to their specialists… Raine's cancer was treatable because it was detected early. And the months and months of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy might have taken a lot out of her but she got through it." Bruce stopped and stepped away from the mic to let Raine speak.
"If you feel a lump on your body that shouldn't be there, or anything abnormal, please go and get it checked-out. If it is cancer, it can be treated straight away and there is a ninety percent of survival rate. Man or woman… Don't be afraid. Believe I know it's scary, believe me. Thank you for coming. There a people holding red donation buckets going around the room, please give as much as you can." Raine stepped back and Alfred came back on.
"Now Raine has written some songs while she was going through her treatment. She is going to sing one now, this is for the patients in hospital."
Bruce looked surprised. Raine grinned and stepped up to the mic. The curtains behind her parted and revealed her band. "Ready?" She asked them and they nodded and then they began playing.
Are you swimming upstream in oceans of blue?
Do you feel like your sinking?
Are you sick of the rain after all you've been through?
Well I know what you're thinking
When you can't take it
You can make it
Sometime soon I know you'll see
'Cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of grey
Well hang on and be strong
When taking each step one day at a time
You can't lose your spirit
Let live and let live forget and forgive
It's all you see it
And just remember keep it together
Don't you know you're never alone
'Cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of grey
Well hang on and be strong
No, you're not defeated
And soon you'll be smiling one again
Then you won't have to feel it
Let it go with the wind
Time passes us by
And know that you're allowed to cry
'Cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of grey
Well hang on and be strong
Everyone was cheering and crying. "I've made some friends along the way and that song is for them." Raine bowed and left the stage. "That was a beautiful song." Bruce whispered. Just then Nurse Moria came up to her. "I agree, that song is beautiful." She said.
"This is my daughter Emma. She is here because she wants to meet you." A beautiful woman stepped up shyly. She was probably shy because Bruce Wayne was standing right in front of her. Raine smiled her usual friendly smile and held out her hand in a greeting. Emma smiled back and shook her hand. "Your mother told me about your recovery. Your story helped me." Raine said and Emma smiled and pulled her in to a hug.
"Will you help me get the word out?" Raine asked when they pulled apart. "I'd be honoured to." Emma replied. "I've always wanted to help others. This is a perfect opportunity."
"Well right now, go and have a good time." Raine said with a smile. Moria and Emma went to talk to other guests. After an hour Raine got back on the stage. The crowd went silent when the band began to play.
A new beginning
A new chapter of my life
Started the day
When I thought
It could be my last.
My eyes were wide shit but
I hadn't given up
Just thought I'd be walking
The world alone.
Out of the blue
There I met you
Showed me a life I can't see without you,
And there's just no way
That I can fight these emotions
Your energy running through me
Out of the blue
Can this be true
Family and friends they were my life,
I wasn't one for butterflies
But you gave me love that I can't disguise
There will time when we're apart,
I want you to know you're in my heart,
Growing into a beautiful garden
No emotions,
My whole body felt like ice
Needed to feel,
That the sun would shine my way
My workd had turned to dust
But I, had my faith and trust
Just thought I'd walking
The world alone.
Family and friends they were my life,
I wasn't one for butterflies,
But you gave me love that I can't disguise.
There will be times when where apart
I want you to know you're in my heart,
Growing into a beautiful garden.
Out of the blue
There I met you
I can't believe that this happened so soon
There's just no way,
That I can fight these emotions,
Your energy running through me.
Then the back-up singers took over.
(Out of the blue)
(There I met you)
(Showed me a life I can't see without you)
(Out of the blue)
(There I met you)
(Showed me a life I can't see without you)
There will be times when we're apart
I want you to know you're in my heart,
Growing in to a beautiful garden.
Again the guests clapped and cheered. Raine waited until they stopped and then said. "My family and I have been through so much, even before my cancer. And Bruce was there for me and my family. During my treatment he was there every day at my side. If I hadn't met Bruce, I don't think I would have made it this far. That song was for Bruce."
Bruce jumped on to the stage and took her face gently in his hands and said in front of everybody "I love you." And then he kissed her with passion. All the women had tears and them were cheering them on. When Bruce and Raine pulled apart, Raine whispered, "I love you too."
Bruce found Clark smiled. Clark raised his glass in the air. John, Ian were smiling proudly at Raine while Logan, Ethen, Jason and Ryan were cheering for their sister, they were the loudest.
Neither Bruce or Raine never felt this happy in a very long time.
Raine snapped out of her trance and then went back to the microphone. "One last song before this party finishes for the night." She said. She didn't let go of Bruce's hand. "This song is about my survival with cancer and my past. And also for the others who went through tough and bad times or survived cancer."
Raine led Bruce to the piano and began to play and then the band began. Bruce sat down next to her.
Time will change you
Nothing lasts forever more
Tomorrow's all we're living for
And lights will blind you
Illusions keep you wanting more
Just look past the revolving doors
To find what's real.
Dear life, am I doing this write?
Can you see me tonight?
Can you help me dear life?
And I know that I can't understand
What you hold in your hands for me
Dear life.
Raine turned her head away from the audience to look at Bruce…
Love will change you
No matter if you stay with them
You'll never be the same again
You've shown me magic
Highs I've never felt before
Memories that I thank you for
From deep in my soul
Dear life, am I doing this right?
Can you see me tonight?
Can you help me dear life?
And I know I can't understand
What you hold in your hands for me
Dear life
I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
Dear life
Everyone clapped when Raine said 'I'm a survivor.'
Sometimes it hurts you
Maybe it's a lesson learned
To bring my feet back to this earth
To find what's real.
Dear life, am I doing this right?
Can you see me tonight?
Can you help me dear life?
And I know that I can't understand
What you hold in your hands for me
Dear life
I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
Dear life
Dear life
Everyone cheered and a lot of them cried. And Raine learned that a lot of people went through their own trials in their lives. Bruce pulled her in to his arms and held me. Raine caught her family's gazes and saw they were crying every single one of them. The song wasn't just about the cancer… It was about the betrayal of their mother. Her mother wanting to kill them all for their powers… And self-doubt and the questions one asks themselves about important events in their lives.
A couple of hours later the party was over Bruce said goodbye to their guests. John, Ian and Raine's brother were staying the night in the manor, because they were too tired to move.
When Raine came out of the bathroom to find Bruce already in bed, he was reading from his tablet. He looked up to see her standing at the end of the bed. He grinned and put the tablet down and crooked a finger at her. "Come here."
Raine grinned and crawled up the bed and on top of Bruce. She straddled him and then bent down and pressed her lips against his. Bruce returned the kiss with even more passion. His hands were holding her there. Eventually they had to breathe so they pulled apart and they just gazed in to each other's eyes. They didn't need to say anything. Then Raine saw the Bat signal flying high. Bruce followed her gave and sighed and got up.
"Shall we?" He asked. "Let's go." She replied.
Five thugs ran out of the restaurant and they ran in to an alley way. They clown masks on. "You know it's not a good idea to hide in a dark alley. I saw the Batman not that long ago." A voice said making the five thugs spin around to find a young woman in a hood standing right behind him. When they saw her they laughed. "Didn't your parents not to be out late at night, and not to talk to strangers?"
"Didn't your parents tell you that looks can be deceiving?" Electric asked.
"Huh?" The thugs were confused. Electric raised her head and her eyes were white. "Oh shit its, the girl who nearly fried the boss." One thug recognised her. Electric grinned. While She distracted them Batman snuck up behind the thugs.
"Look behind you." Electric said. "Huh?" The thugs turned around and two got a fist in the face. Electric kicked their feet from under them. And then punched then in the face. Batman tied the thugs up and gagged them. Electric went to get the police who arrived at the restaurant. "This way." She said. They followed her to the alley where Batman was getting ready to leave. Raine flew up in to the air and Batman used his grappling hook to disappear in to the night.
He met Raine on the tallest apartment building, she was looking up at the stars. "Are you coming back to the Justice League?" He asked her. "Yes." She replied as she turned around. Batman pulled her up against him and claimed her mouth with his.
The first song of this chapter was 'Be strong' by Delta Goodrem. She wrote the song in support of her dear friend who breast cancer… the late Belinda Emmet.
The song is from Delta's second album 'Mistaken Identity.'
The second song is also from her second album. It is called 'Out of the Blue'. Delta was only eighteen when she found out she had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She was doing going between England where she was recording, and Australia where she was doing Neighbours (Australian soap). Delta was dating tennis player Mark Philippoussis, and the song was about the support he gave her.
The last song is from her fifth and latest album 'Wings of the wild.' 'Dear life' focuses on self-doubt and the questions one asks themselves at important events in their life.
You can find Delta Goodrem's story about her battle with cancer online.
And Kylie Minogue's story with cancer (Breast cancer) is also online. Last year Kylie celebrated 10 years' cancer free. Delta is also cancer free for about 12 years. (That's because it was detected early.)
Please review and let me know what you think.