Dinah was still yawning when she arrived to the temporary headquarter of The Team. A sweat shirt had been pulled over hastily, the sleeves still rolled up when she arrived.

She looked around for a moment, before M'gann came out from the warehouse, greeting her with a faint smile.

"I thought I should call you," M'gann started. "You two have known each other forever,"

"I see," Dinah nodded slightly.

"I saw her out by the docks," M'gann explained. "I thought she had a nightmare, but she wouldn't respond. She's been like this sense the rescue mission."

Dinah looked over to the direction of the docks.

"I'll talk to her,"

Dinah slowly walked down the hallway to the gym, water bottle in her hand. She drank fast, wiping away water running down her chin with her hand.

A towel was draped around her shoulders, and she wore a white tank top and red shorts. Her hair was up in a high pony tail, bright and curly blonde.

"Ted," She smiled as she walked into the room. "Check it out-"

She looked ahead to see Ted sitting on an metal chair, watching a little orange haired girl weakly hitting a punching bad with small fists.

Ted smiled at her; but the girl's face looked aloof and distanced.

"What's up sport?" Ted smiled at her.

"I, um," Dinah stood there. "I wanted to show you this,"

She handed Ted the letting, watching in anticipation as he read. She placed her hands behind her back, not wanting him to see her fidget.

A wide grin appeared on the man's face.

"So the Justice League invited you," He grinned. "Just shy of 22 and your already 'hittin the big leagues."

Dinah blushed.

"What's the justice league?"

Dinah and Ted turned to see the little orange haired girl standing beside them, curious.

"The Justice League is the best team of superhero's the worlds ever seen," Ted explained. "Well, the second best," He laughed as he remembered his old team.

Dinah smiled.

"I guess I can't be your sidekick anymore,"

She was hoping he'd make more of a fuss tell her he'd miss her. Tell her to think it over. Maybe even tell her he was selfish enough to tell her to stay.

"I guess not,"

Dinah's smile faded as he said it.

He hand the letter back to her, shaking her hand as he did.

"Good job sport," He said. "Quite the accomplishment."

"Ya,"

Ted turned to the orange haired girl.

"I'm going to be teaching Audrey some stances today," He explained. "Would you like to join us?"

"No... thank you," Dinah said quietly. She turned away, exiting.

She stood out on the steps, looking out over the setting sun. Her head rested in her curled up knees, remembering when she had first met Ted.

She hadn't expected her mother to pass so quickly. She just held her hand and watched fall asleep one last time; she trembled, the coldness of her mother's body sent chills down her spine, but an invisible force kept them tied together.

Her eyes were dark and swollen as she looked at the robust man in front of her. One of her mother's friend from the Justice Society of America. He was a gruff, unruly man who looked like he didn't quite get etiquette.

She didn't speak to him when she first moved in with him. She sat in her room, refusing to eat any of the food he brought it. She laid in her bed and clung to her pillow, waiting for her mother to come and take her with her.

"Dinah; you have to get up eventually," Ted sighed. "Unless you want to die,"

Dinah didn't look at him.

"I do,"

Ted sighed.

"Selfish,"

Dinah whipped around, turning to Ted as she raised her fist angrily. She growled as she swung at him

"What would you know!?" She screamed at him as he caught her his. She tried to pull away, her arm stuck in his clench.

Her hair hid her face as she started crying. Her body relaxed, but Ted still held her wrist in his hand.

"What would you know..." She whispered. Her cries became louder.

"If your mother heard you, what would she say?" Ted asked her.

She stared at him, not knowing what to say.

"The way you talk; I bet she'd feel guilty," Ted sighed.

"No..." Dinah argued weakly.

"You don't think so?" Ted questioned. "I think so. I'm sure she feel's bad enough leaving you behind."

Dinah fell silent.

"I bet she'd do anything to make you happy," Ted said. " Every time you say you want to die, It hurts her; because all she wants you to do is live,"

Dinah's face contorted bitterly as she cried harder. She wiped away her tears with her sleeve, to no avail.

She cried harder that day then she ever cried before.

She continued looking into the sunset. A duffel bag was packed beside her. She looked down at it; it only held some clothes and little necessities.

She got up, pulling the bag over her shoulders; she looked back at the door, slowly going over it with detail; the chipped paint, the faded fake gold doorknob.

In the back of her mind, she knew this was coming. She was getting older; her and Ted weren't as close as they had been.

She could feel it in gentle waves as they pulled her away from him. They we're less like a family. She had missed the days when she was treated like a daughter, not a comrade.

Part of her, deep inside, wanted to go back in and yell at him. Tell him to feel sad. To feel anything. She wanted to remind him how special she was, how talented he had made her; acknowledge what he had made.

Knowing how little he cared truly hurt her. Knowing she was replaceable.

reminding her they were not a real family.

And sitting on those steps in the light of a setting sun told her how alone she truly was.

She turned away from the door, pulling her jacket closer to her chest. She opened the creaky metal gate of the backyard fence.

She closed it behind her, walking away from the house.

"Audrey,"

Dinah stared at the girl in front of her. She was crouching; her body had a faint yellow glow that illuminated the darkness.

Audrey didn't look at her.

Dinah walked over to the girl; before she had a chance to move, Dinah grabbed her by the wrist.

"Let go..." She heard the girl whisper.

"No," Dinah's answer was firm.

"Please..." Audrey sniffled. Her voice faded, muffled.

"I won't leave you alone,"

Audrey stopped pulling away. She turned to Dinah, not looking at her. She lowered her head, her glowing skin starting to fade.

"I left her alone," Audrey curled her head into her knees as she sank to the ground.

"Audrey..."

"I could've gone with her. I had the choice. Then she wouldn't be alone," Audrey cried. Her sobs became more rapid and sopradic.

"The worst part it," She chocked on the words. "I forgot about her. I don't remember the sound of her voice; or her touch," She cried. "What if she's dead? I wouldn't even know."

Canary gently let go of the girl's wrist.

"I let her go; all by herself," Audrey gritted her teeth.

"I should've gone to her."

Dinah pulled Audrey close as she broke down. She put her hand behind her head and stroked her hair.

"I don't think she would've wanted that," Dinah whispered. "I know what it's like to feel guilty."

"I should've gone with her."

She pulled the girl close, a cheek coming down from her own cheek.

"So don't say that. It hurts her," Dinah continued. "Because all she wanted-"

The image of Dinah's own mother came into her head.

"Was for you to live,"

Dinah watched as the girls eyes watered some more at the realization. Dinah pulled her back into her chest, holding her. She closed her eyes; the embrace was warm and nostalgic. It both sadness and vulnerability;

yet comfort and a wave of long awaited relief.

She looked down at Audrey, who had fallen asleep in her arms. She stared out in the distance, beyond the cargo rates and forklifts; to the sea, watching as the sun broke though it, lighting the sky in early morning light.