Part 17

Star City

Streets

It seemed hard to believe that more than two months had passed since the destruction of Metropolis. Since her home had been destroyed, ...since she had last spoken to any of them. She had left shortly after Clark had given his speech to the world demanding a cease fire and if the world leaders did not comply they would answer to him. She had tried to tell them, tried to get them to listen that Clark wasn't thinking straight, that his grief over losing Lois and Metropolis was consuming him. They didn't want to hear it. She couldn't blame them, even she didn't want to face that the man she had met all those years ago maybe gone.

She understood all to well what Clark was feeling and what he was trying to do. He felt guilty, he felt responsible for what had happened and he wanted to ensure it never happened again. She knew what that guilt felt like. Her father sacrificed his own life in trade for hers and a day hasn't gone by that she doesn't think about that. She had spent many years his sacrifice trying to bring him back fully willing to sacrifice her own life, but when she finally got her chance, she nearly killed Chloe something she had not intended to have happen. It was always supposed to be her life, not another. In the end Clark had convinced her this isn't what her father would have wanted. He would want her to go on with her life, the life he had given her. It was because of Clark, she understood and honored her fathers sacrifice and closed the portal that would have brought him back.

'A life for, a life'

It was why she had gone to the farm that day to see Clark after he called her begging her to place a spell on the alcohol, just like she had with the wine all those years ago. He just wanted to feel anything, but deal with the loss of Lois and the baby. He had even pleaded with her to do the one thing she could not do, no matter how much she wished she could, because just as she cannot grant her own wishes. There are just some wishes that are too far out of her reach.

"Please... Zatanna, I have never asked for anything from you. Please, just do this one thing for me," he cried heavily. "I can't go on without her."

"Clark..." her voice broke. "I-I can't... You know I can't bring anyone back from the dead. It doesn't work that way." But if it did she would have done it in a heart beat, because the man who has given everything deserved to be happy and loved. He deserved to have a life time with the woman he loves for than even, to raise his child watch him grow.

"Use your fathers book, take my life, so that she and the baby can live," he exclaimed desperately. "Please, I'm begging you."

"I'm sorry, Clark..." she told her. "I know you're in pain and it feels like your life is over, but your life is too important to the world." She couldn't sacrifice his life, she knew just like they all did, just as Lois did that Clark was too important to the world. Whether he liked it or not they would all sacrifice their lives for his.

He had hung up the phone soon after her refusal to use her fathers book. She wasted no time in going to the farm to see him. She had never seen him so broken, so lost. It was so unlike the Clark Kent she had known. She couldn't help but wonder if she had been there that day when Toyman kidnapped Lois, that maybe she could have done something. But she had been at a children s party that was getting underway when all of it was happening. The only thing that eased some of her pain was knowing that had she not been at the party and teliported everyone that was there out, that they would all be dead. She had saved their lives, but far too many lives had been lost that day. And perhaps the biggest loss of life that day was Clark Kent himself, a huge part of him died in those moments when his beloved wife took her last breath taking all of Metropolis with it.

She had wanted to help him. She wanted to be there for him, as he had been there for her in her moments of sorrow, but in the end she hadn't been able to help him and he drifted further away from her, becoming lost in his grief and anger, turning down a path that she never in a million years would ever have thought possible, but then he had strayed away once before when they all thought Lois was gone forever. They all had strayed away, trust had been broken and the loss of Lois hadn't been the only life that had been hanging over their shoulders. Henry 'Jimmy' Olsen had been killed, because they didn't trust each other...

She never would have thought that ten years later they would be faced with that scenario again, but this time was different. Different in ways she couldn't begin to piece together and feared for the first time of just what they were all capable of.

Zatanna sighed heavily as she walked down a dark ally of Star City where she saw a prone form lying in a pool of blood. It only took a few short moments to realize it was someone she knew. The man lying dead in a pool of blood was forty-year old Joey Guiton father of three, back in his youth Joey had worked for her father. He had come from a broken home and her father had taken Joey under his wing even paid for him to go to college. She could still remember being twelve years old and having the hugest crash on Joey. When he father was running late Joey would pick her up from school and take her out for ice cream, of course they had nothing more than a brother-sister relationship. He would go on to marry his college sweetheart, get a decent job and buy a house where they planned to raise their kids and grow old together.

But then three years ago he had lost his job after he had been in an accident, his house soon came after when he could no longer pay the bills. But he still had his family and his pride, so he left Metropolis a year ago and came to Star City to start over. He tried and tried, but could never find a job that didn't last for more than a couple of weeks.

So in order for him to survive and take care of his family he had to turn down a path, he never thought he would. Much like someone else she knows has done. There seems to be a lot of that going on, people becoming more and more disparate, doing what they feel they have to to survive, but Joey didn't survive. The guy who taught her how to dance was no more. His children would grow up without their father. And there was nothing she could do about it.

Not that he would have taken her help. She had tried to help him over the years, but he always refused her helping hand saying he wouldn't feel right. She had known about his run ins with the law. He mostly only stole bags and purses, usually from cars, but he always had a code.. He would only take the money and nothing else. No credit cards. Only what he needed to feed his family. No one needed the hassle of anything else. While he had lost his way, he was still one of the good guys. He was still the kid her father had always thought of as a son. And some dirt-bag, some self-righteous scum just shot him for dead in a cold dark alley where no one would come to his rescue until it was too late.

"I'm sorry Joey," she told him sadly as she called the police to report that she found him dead in an alley, but then went on her way soon after.

Joey was just one of the many small time criminals, he had come from a rough background and her father always had a soft spot for guys like Joey. So even she having been a member of the League felt something for the small time criminal that were mostly just trying to survive and needed a hand in the right direction. And the League used to not concern themselves too much with the small time crime, they went after the most dangerous offenders. The ones the law couldn't handle alone. But things have changed.

Fear was on the rise. Small-time criminals like Joey already live in fear of being caught. They have a fear of disappointing their family, their friends. They're afraid of being locked away and never being able to see their children grow up. ….And now it not just them who are afraid of one false move could spell danger for them. It seems everyone is afraid ...Even those who have nothing to fear.

And she couldn't blame them. When someone who is faster than light, who can see and hear exactly what you are doing at any given moment when ever he wants suddenly decides to swoop out of the sky and put his fist through the man responsible for Metropolis destruction. That's the sort of thing that starts making you question every move you make.

Ever since that day that Clark killed Toyman, more and more criminals are turning up dead in the streets. She couldn't say for sure whether Clark was responsible or if people have just been getting more gusty with protecting themselves and their belongings, no longer caring that they're taking a life, because if Superman could take a life, than so can they.

The whole world looks up to him. He's supposed to be the best. He's supposed to be better than any of them. The light in the dark that shows them the way. ….And while she understands why he killed Toyman and couldn't blame him. She fears what that action has not only done to him, but to the whole world.

Zatanna finds herself walking through the living room of a man who years ago stole something very dangerous from her father and has used it to gain his riches. He was an evil man who instead of using the riches he had gained from the powerful object used it to prey upon others stripping them of their homes and every last cent.

Zatanna removed the picture frame and set it aside to reveal a safe. It didn't take her long to unlock the safe. She quickly found the gold pendant that grants you great riches, along with expensive jewelry and over $100,000's of dollars. She would take everything and give the money to Joey's family. It was the only thing she could do to help them. She knew it would not ease their pain from losing him forever, but it could give them a chance to start over. ….Then she felt it, a shadow hovering over her, a shadow she knew all too well.

"I have to say, I would have expected you sooner," she turned to face him not hiding the fact she was holding a bag of loot. "Too busy blowing up military bases?"

"What the hell is going on here!" shouted the owner of the house as he came into the living room with a gun. "Hey that doesn't belong to you!" He shouted seeing the bag Zatanna was holding and his safe empty.

"I love to sit and chat, but I've got a prior engagement," exclaimed Zatanna who vanished in a poof of smoke.

Zatanna was back on the streets of Star City, but soon found herself face to face with Clark. She knew should could use her magic against him, she had done it before, but she thought against it. "So what you going to do arrest me?" he exclaimed. "Because I can tell you that he deserved it. He had something that didn't belong to him and I was just taking it back."

"And the rest?" Clark questioned knowing Zatanna had had a history of stealing cursed objects her father had placed spells on back in his rebellious youth.

"Probably stolen too," Zatanna answered as she crossed her arms against her chest. "Look you can bring me in, just as long as you promise to give what's in this bag to Joey Guitons family.

"What?" Clark answered. "No..." He shook his head, he had no reason to take Zatanna into custody. "I'm not hear about what you did or didn't take." There were far more important things on his mind right now then what Zatanna had been doing moments ago. He knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't be stealing something out of some billionaires safe without a very good reason. "I just wanted to talk."

"Talk?" she couldn't believe her ears. "...Since when?"

"No, this isn't about me," Clark sighed heavily as a tear ran down his face. "It's Oliver. Somethings happened."

Zatanna could feel her heart racing. She didn't like the sound in Clarks voice. Something was very wrong. Though Oliver and her weren't exactly on the best of terms she would never wish him harm. "Wh-what happened," she asked. "Is he okay? Is he hurt?"

"...It's Mia," Clark answered her after a long pause. He could barely look her in the eyes, because in some truth he felt responsible for Mia's death. She was just one of the many death he had weighing on his shoulders. "She's gone..."

"What do you mean gone?" exclaimed Zatanna.

"She's dead..." Clark no longer able to face her turned away.

Zatanna couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it, but all the proof was in Clarks voice. Mia was gone and she wasn't coming back.

"With Dinah and him no longer speaking. He's going to need someone." With the way things have been going with the team, Oliver needed someone on the outside and with Zatanna having resigned weeks ago. She seemed like the most logical choice to turn to. "He's going to need someone."

"Me..." her voice broke. She couldn't believe what Clark was asking her. "You're supposed to be his best friend Clark. You should talk to him."

"...I can't," Clark answered shamefully. "Too much has happened."

"That's bullshit, and you know it!" Zatanna exclaimed angrily. "Oliver would throw himself in front of a kryptonite bullet for you and you would do the same thing for him. You two would fight to the death for each other." She never could understand why both Clark and Oliver found it easier sacrifice their lives for each other, but when it came down to talking to each other about their feelings they both rather run to the nearest fire.

"Please Zatanna," he begged her as he faced her with tears running down his face. "...I can't be there for him. He doesn't want me there." He lowered his head down sighing. "...And I can't blame him."

"Clark... There is nothing that Oliver would not do for you," she cried. "He loves you, he looks up to you, he thinks of you as his little brother."

"Things are different..." Clark answered softly. "Please, will you be there for him."

Zatanna could see that Clark was really broken up over this and maybe even ashamed, so ashamed that he couldn't bring himself to face Oliver. It broke her heart in ways she never thought possible. "I'll go," she answered with a heavy sigh. "But please do me a favor while your on this crusade of yours. Don't forgot the people you're trying to protect. Don't forget who you are." She gripped his shoulder and looked him in the eyes with tears running down her face. "Don't forget the man who Lois loved and admired, who would have done anything for you."

"Take care of yourself Zatanna," Clark smiled faintly before he flew away.

"...Because I haven't given up on you yet," Zatanna whispered to herself watching him fly off into the night.

Queen Residence

Zatanna pressed the buzzer, but no answer. She pressed the buzzer again and then spoke into the intercom. "Ollie, it's me," she annouched with a heavy sigh, but still no answer ever came. "Please Oliver... Clark told me what happened."

"Just leave me the hell alone!" Oliver voice came loudly over the intercom. "If I wanted to see anyone I would send out a smoke signal!"

Zatanna knew it wouldn't be easy to get Oliver to talk to her. He was just as bad if not worse than Clark when it came to talking about his feelings. Only two people were ever really able to get the two to open up, one of them was dead and the other was unavailable, so it was up to her. She just hoped that she would have better luck with Oliver than she had with Clark.

"Sorry Ollie, but I don't give up that easy," Zatanna annouched as she used her magic to unlock the door. She then made her way into the elevator and went to the three floor, but one quick look in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms showed Oliver was no where to be seen. "Where is he?" she asked herself, then she heard what sound like someone punching something. She followed the stairs up to the four floor where the gym was.

Zatanna found Oliver punching a punching bag his fists black and blue covered in blood. "Oliver!" she ran towards him. "Stop!" she cried.

"I thought I told you to leave me the hell alone!" he exclaimed angrily shouting into her face. "So why don't you just turn around and leave, leaving is what you do best anyways." He continued to punch and punch the bag over and over, his blood spattering everywhere.

Zatanna sighed heavily knowing it had been a huge mistake for her to turn her backs on her friends. She watched as Oliver got ready to take another swing at the punching bag, but this time she latched onto him arm and pulled him into her arms wrapping them around him tightly. "I'm sorry," she cried. "I'm so...so sorry. I should have never left you guys."

"...She's gone," Oliver finally said after several long seconds as he began to let go and the tears began to fall. "...I lost her."

"It's going to be okay," Zatanna told him as she became his lifeline something he desperately needed in Chloes absence. "We'll get through this." ….We have too.

Queen Estate

Cemetery

A few days later

Oliver hadn't stepped foot on his families estate since he was a boy. He could never bring himself to come back after the death of his parents and even when he got older and finished school. It was why he had bought a condo in the city just so he wouldn't have to come back here. He knew he should have sold it years ago such a beautiful home shouldn't go to waste, but he could never bring himself to sell the home he had shared with his parents.

"I never told anyone this, but when my parents were killed in the plane crash. My mom was two months pregnant," Oliver smiled faintly as he brushed his hand against the tombstone he had specially made for Mia. "I was going to be a big brother." He smiled, as a tear trickled down his face. "...most probably would find it surprising, but I was hoping for a little sister." He had always wanted a little sister, someone who he could always look after and protect. Someone who he would have done anything for. "You two would have been about the same age..."

Oliver sighed heavily as he traced Mia's name with his finger. "I think that's why I wanted to help you, I didn't get to be one for him or her, but I could be one to you." He ran his hand over his tearful face. "I'm just sorry that I didn't protect you the way I should have. I'm sorry I failed you." He looked up to the night star covered sky. "I just hope that one day you can forgive me. You meant more to me than you ever knew."

"She knew Oliver," Zatanna annouched as she walked up behind him with a tearful smile on her face. "Mia always knew how much you cared about her and I know she was grateful for everything you did for her."

"Because of me she's dead," he annouched as he stood up and faced her.

"Because of you she got a second chance, because of you she lived as long as she did!" exclaimed Zatanna who was not about to let Oliver throw himself a pity party. She had seen what grief had done to Clark she was not about to watch the same thing happen to Oliver. "How long do you think she would have lasted out there if you had left her alone? How long before would it had been before she OD or how long before some jerk took things too far with her?" She grabbed a hold of Olivers shoulder and looked him hard in the eyes. "You saved her life Oliver. You gave it meaning, because of you not only did she have something to fight for, but she had something to live for," she cried. "She wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

As much as Oliver didn't want to admit it he knew Zatanna was right. Mia would kick him in the ass if he let his grief eat him away and continued to blame himself for her death. She would want him to go on living, go on fighting for truth and justice, even if it was without her.

TO BE CONTINUED