Chapter 13

Gabby woke up feeling a little stiff in her arm and sore in her back, but her lip seemed to go down some. It stung from where the cut was, but it wasn't as swollen as before. As she got out of bed and went to the bathroom - careful not to make noise and wake her mother, Gabby looked in the mirror and winced. Her eye was going to give her away, and she knew that make up won't help. Gabby rarely wore makeup as it was, but this time...

Gabby began to freak out a little in her mind as she prepared herself for school that morning. After applying consealer to her eye, she was glad to see that it didn't look as bad as it had before, but there was still some redness and puffiness there, and she knew she would get questions. She sighed and left the house. She squinted in the white, surprised that there was a thin layer of snow on the ground. So scared of running into her mother, she hadn't noticed. Gabby had to go back into her room for a thicker coat. Gabby was glad that there was only a couple more days until the winter break, and she didn't have to juggle school work and the night life for a while. She frowned sourly, thinking back on the 'task' Barbara had given her the night before as she walked along the sidewalk to get to her bus stop. She didn't want to sit back and rest, dammit. She was invested in this as it was. She got hurt for the cause, lied to her mother, and now she had to sit it out? She didn't find it fair. Gabby knew she was being a little childish about it, but she sacrificed a lot for what she did, and she wanted it to be worth it.

The teen watched her breath as it made fog in front of her as she walked the block it took to get to her bus stop. She saw a couple of other regulars, noticing that one boy she had in her art class the year before wasn't there that day. She figured he sat it out because of the snow. Hell, she would have as well, but she didn't want to risk running into her mother. She couldn't even remember if she saw her mother's car in the driveway. As Gabby hopped from one foot to the other, she couldn't help but to think about Dinah- and not only because she wanted to ride in a smooth car instead of a jostling loud box on wheels. Still, seeing the snow everywhere and wondering if more was to come later in the day, Gabby hoped that her new friend would drive safely. She wondered how Dinah's night had been. Of course, it couldn't have been nearly as exciting as her had been, but she hoped that she did something other than homework. This made Gabby stop. She hadn't done any of her homework. She winced, this time not from pain, and she let out a sigh. She knew there was no way she could get any of it done on the bus. She might have time to half-ass a worksheet in homeroom, but she still had a self evaluation paper that she hadn't finished. Luckily for the blonde, she didn't have anything else before the break, but she needed all of the help she can get when her grades were barely above average before she became Oracle part time.

When the bus came, she found her usual seat near the middle, and stared out of the window the best she could as she started her music player. She let her mind go back to the night before, which wasn't hard to do, since each time the bus stopped, started, had people boarding, or went over a bump, she felt the affects of an average person getting into a fight with a metahuman. Gabby realized that she was lucky the figure hadn't killed her. If Gabby remembered right, it seemed as if the figure hadn't wanted to even hurt her, just get her out of the way. If Gabby had just allowed for her to go with the components, Gabby wouldn't have been hurt like she was then. Gabby had a mission, though, one she almost completed. Gabby didn't even know what the figure could have done with the component in her possession unless she knew that doctor guy or if she had his research. It was very possible that the doctor was still around, and if he was selling his soul to the highest bidder or even having his life threatened for a duplicate of that machine, then Gabby suspected things were worse off than she had imagined them to be the night before.

Gabby let out a sigh of relief when the bus finally came to a complete stop outside of New Gotham High School. The bus seemed to sputter one last time before the driver killed the engine, and then Gabby waited to file out of the beast, her feet careful on the steps on her way down. As soon as she got to the sidewalk and out of the way to the few still trying to get off of the bus, Gabby heard her name. Upon first hearing it, she wondered if it was her new friend possibly waiting for her, but the voice was too low, too male for it to be Dinah. Gabby looked around until her eyes fell upon Mr. Brixton, who waved his small folder at her. Gabby took a couple of steps his way, a look of guilt on her face.

"Hey Gabby," the councelor said, mist coming from his nose as the two of them stopped right at the bottom of the small set of stairs leading inside. Gabby smiled politely as she turned to look at him. "I'm glad I caught up with you," Mr. Brixton said as Gabby turned to continue into the building, the broad man in tow. "With the snow and everything, I wasn't sure if you'd be able to make our appointment." Gabby made a face, and Mr. Brixton laughed. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"Sorry," Gabby offered with a small shrug.

"Don't worry, I almost forgot, too on my way in," the councelor admitted, "but I have the brochures to a few colleges I think you might do well in. They're on my desk if you wanna come in for a quick chat. Do you have the time?" Mr Brixton watched the girl as she seemed to find a reason not to, but Gabby eventually nodded. "Good."

Mr. Brixton lead the way then, even though both were aware of the direction they were now headed. Students waved or said hello to the councelor, and they all got a greeting back with their names attatched to them, which always amazed Gabby. People she always saw around the school - and even had classes with - she didn't have a clue as to who they were, and Mr. Brixton, a man who had only been apart of their school since the beginning of the year, seemed to know them all. Gabby follwed the man as they took a left into the main office, where people were lined up to get some sort of buisness taken care of. Some of the other staff looked at Gabby and seemed concerned, while others continued to greet the councelor, knowing that he would get things sorted out.

Once the door to Mr. Brixton's office closed behind them, Gabby looked around, having never been there before. There wasn't a whole lot, not nearly as much as the offices of the principal and the vice principal, signs that they had served New Gotham High forever, and would continue to serve New Gotham High forever more. There was a picture on his desk next to his computer, one of two young men. One, Gabby recognized, and the other was familiar to him. Gabby guessed his brother, but before she could think or say much else, Mr. Brixton spoke up, his voice much deeper, much more serious than the lighthearted tones of the hallway chatter.

Gabby saw that the look on his face changed slightly, from stern to concerned, and Gabby knew she wasn't going to like what was going to happen next. "Gabby, please sit down," he said. Gabby slowly but surely did as she was told, sitting in the seat opposite Mr. Brixton's. She gritted her teeth and tried not to make any sound as she felt pain in her arm from this movement. Still, when she looked up at the councelor, she saw that he'd seen it. "What's going on, Gabby?" he asked, almost as if he couldn't figure out a better way to start the conversation. "Is there something that I should know about?"

Gabby tried to keep her body relaxed in a way that said that nothing was wrong, but she was in pain now. "I don't know what you mean," Gabby responded, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

"I admit to being new here, and I admit to not really knowing my way around here as well as I should," Mr. Brixton said, which surprised Gabby, seeing how well he got along with the other people in the school, "but I would like to think that I know my job, which is watching out for you kids." There was silence, so Mr. Brixton continued. "I was looking over your academic record and saw that your grades have been slipping from a 3.4 to a 2.9 grade point average since last spring. Seeing as it is still good enough grades to get into college, I am not... Well, not too worried, seeing as your grades have remained steady for now, but I am worried about you. Before Ms. Germaine retired, she had a conference with you. Do you remember that?"

Gabby did remember. Ms. Germaine knew her mother and had wanted to take it upon herself to watch out for Gabby since she had entered High School. Gabby liked the woman, she really did, but when she found out about her Lit teacher's true identity, it seemed Gabby couldn't get rid of her. "Yes, I remember," Gabby said softly.

"Her records say that you had tentative plans for college once, but since- well, since Spring, you have shown no interest in college at all. I don't want to think I have wasted my time looking up colleges for you, Gabby."

"What if you did? All I hear about is 'college this and college that'..." Gabby shrugged. "What if I only said I ever wanted to go so I can humor you?"

Mr. Brixton put his hand to his mouth as if to wipe away some invisible crubs from breakfast. "You see, that would make sense, yes. The lowered grades, fine. New school year, and all that, things get harder. However, that isn't the only thing that has me worried. You're a nice, likable girl. You could easily make friends, but you hang out with Bar- Ms. Gordon. I've checked, Gabby, you aren't in any of her classes. Ms. Germaine wrote you as distant and constantly distracted. You're in Gay Straight Alliance, yet you don't ever hang out with any of its members. I noticed you having lunch with Dinah Redmond, and though I was happy to see you've finally made a friend, I worry that she might not be-"

"What is this, Mr. Brixton? What are you trying to ask me?"

"Is there someone new in your life? Other than Dinah- as this has been going on for a while- Or someone in your mother's life perhaps?"

"I'm not being beaten, if that's what you're getting at," Gabby said coldly.

"Well, what else am I supposed to think when you've cut yourself off from everyone but Ms. Gordon, and then today come to school limping?"

"Can't you just trust that whatever is going on, Ms. Gordon can handle it? That I have placed my trust in her for a reason and we are working on it together?"

"Yes, I can see your point there, and I am glad that you can confide in someone. That is, if she does know the root of your changes in the last few months. I just..." Mr. Brixton cut off what he was saying and then tried again. "You're limping, and your eye. You were beaten or you were in a fight. Either way, its cause for some concern. You've got to understand that, don't you?"

Gabby felt for the guy. She liked him even more, but she had a secret to uphold, not just for herself but for Barbara, too. She knew she had to give something up, or like Ms. Germaine, Mr. Brixton wouldn't let up. "Okay... Promise not to tell my mother?"

"As long as you're not hurting yourself or someone else, I can make that promise."

"Good enough, I suppose, but... technically, I am hurting myself." Gabby winced when Mr. Brixton's posture changed, as if ready to say something or take immediate action. "No, that came out wrong. The thing is, I take karate classes in the evening. They are these sort of unofficial lessons taught by a friend I met last school year. I was walking down the street and this weird guy was harrassing me, and he helped me and said he'd teach me how to defend myself. Anyway, last night we got a little too into it with the sparring and I was too slow. He caught me in the eye, thinking I'd duck it. Normally I would have, but I was... distracted all night, and he got me pretty good." Gabby gave a small shrug.

Mr. Brixton nodded slightly as he took this story in, however, it was clear to Gabby that he didn't believe it, either. "And Ms. Gordon knows but your mother doesn't?"

"Yes. She too saw a wound in May, and like you was worried about it, so I told her everything. That time, I was working with another student of his who turned out to be batshit crazy and so he kicked him out- Long story. Anyway, yes, and I had to beg her for days not to tell my mother because if my mother ever found out that I was ever in danger and getting self defence classes because of it, she would pack us up and move us to the middle of nowhere Washington with my grandparents and I would never see anything familiar ever again." Gabby kept her eyes on Mr. Brixton, but she was getting fidgetty.

"You and I both know that you're lying, but if you are willing to make up such a lie then it is important to you to keep quiet about it. I have no choice but to trust that Ms. Gordon is helping you where I cannot. We'll keep this conversation between us, but if you come to school battered like this again," the councelor swept his arm towards Gabby as an example, "I'll have no choice but to make some phone calls."

"I understand. I should get going."

"Sure."

Gabby stood up quickly and walked towards Mr. Brixton who hadn't moved from the door. The man took a step to the right and leaned against the wall. He put a hand out to her shoulder before she could open the door and said, "My door is always open, and if you decide you want to go to college after all, you know where to find me."

"Thank you Mr. Brixton," Gabby said. She sighed a deep sigh as soon as she was back in the main hall, feeling eyes on her as she continued to limp towards Barbara's classroom and wishing her mentor was there. She took a quick look into the small window and breathed another sigh of relief as she opened it. She noticed Barbara tensing up just slightly as the door opened, but her muscles relaxed as soon as she saw that it was Gabby.

"If anyone asks," Gabby said as she hurried towards one of the front row desks and sank into it, "I take karate classes with some Mr. Miagi wannabe at night, which my mother doesn't know about because she'll take me away to some undisclosed location somewhere in Washington State. Oh, and I have a turtle named Shelly."

"Good morning," the redhead said, as if to test the waters with Gabby.

" 'Morning," Gabby got out as she leaned her head on her fist and studied Barbara. The teacher went to Gab by and knealed down to check over her face.

"Are you okay?"

Gabby nodded quickly, but her eyes seemed to tell a different story. "But enough about me."

"No no no, wait. What happened?" Barbara asked, standing again and leaning on her desk.

"I just had a run in with Mr. Brixton. I told him this story about almost getting mugged once but being saved from some guy who now teaches me karate and because I was distracted got a little beaten up in sparring with him. So yeah, that was why I was beaten last night, not because of my mother's boyfriend or my new girlfriend or whatever. When I see my mother next, she's going to freak out, and I know she won't believe the Karate Kid story. I don't know what I'm gonna tell her." Gabby brought a finger to her injured eye and groaned. "I have told more lies this week alone than I have in my entire life, even in the time I've met, you know, the real you." Gabby said. "It's going to snowball and bury me sooner rather than later."

"Other than that, are you okay?"

"You mean, physically? I'm dandy."

"Seriously?"

Gabby shrugged.

"I'll help you in any way I can," Barbara promised. "I'll get him off your back for a little while.

"Good, because he said he was going to," Gabby put fingers in the air to mimick quotations, " 'make some phone calls' if I come to school limping or bruised like this again."

At this, Barbara looked away, ashamed. "I could have taken that beating last night and bounced back from it quickly."

"I don't know, she had some wicked powers."

"I've been in explosions, knife fights- hell, gunfights. I know I could have been alright after that fight with her."

"Well..." Gabby shrugged, then winced. "Did you at least go and get those other doo-hickies Alfred was talking about?"

"Yeah, I got them, but it seemed rather anticlimactic after what you went through."

"Jealous?" Gabby asked somewhat playfully, even though her face seemed to beg Barbara to say no.

"No, but I rather it was me than you."

"Don't do this, okay? Don't blame yourself, or Alfred. It's happened, and now we just need to step back and make a plan to go get that other gadget before something disasterous happens when they figure out what to do with it."

"You're right. Speaking of figuring out gadgets..."

"Did you geek out last night?" Gabby asked with a smile.

"Just a little. I was able to fix the other one as well as tinker with it a little bit."

"Which one?"

"The one Alfred said Bruce used inside the manor."

"So, you think you got it to have multiple uses, then?"

"I don't know. I haven't tested it," Barbara said almost regretfully. "Its times like these that make me wish I knew where Bruce went."

"You miss him," Gabby said, more as a statement than a question.

"Yeah, as much as you'd miss me when I'm gone."

"Which is a lot," Gabby said without hesitation.

"Really?" Barbara asked, almost as if she hadn't expected Gabby's answer. The teen looked at her incredulously.

"How could you ask me that?" Gabby wondered. Barbara shrugged. "Wait, you're not planning on leaving me ever, are you?" There was a small whine in Gabby's tone that suggested she might cry.

"I don't actively plan on it, no," Barbara replied, "but you know this lifestyle. The possibility is definately there."

Gabby hung her head, and the tears that she fought for most of the morning since she'd left Mr. Brixton's office finally fell down her face. After the night before, she knew first hand that her mentor's words were true, but before then, she'd always pushed such thoughts away. Knowing that the figure could have killed her had she wanted to, or had Gabby not done some things differently made a chill go through her, one that had nothing to do with the snow outside. Finally Gabby looked up, a new determination in her eye. "It won't be because of me," she said, her tone firm, even as another tear ran down her cheek.

Barbara pushed herself from her desk and walked to Gabby again. She used her thumb to wipe the tear away. "I trust you, Gabby. I trust you with my life, otherwise I wouldn't have you there at the Delphi at night. You're my best friend. You're half my age, but... you are," Barbara admitted.

Gabby knew that their relationship was unique and even frowned upon if anyone knew just how much Gabby and Barbara hung out, but it was true. Gabby never would have said it out loud, but Barbara was her best friend, and to know that the redhead thought the same of her made feel much better about everything, even her injuries. Gabby nodded, hopefully telling the other woman that she felt the same way. One day she would get the courage to ask Barbara just why she chose Gabby's home that first time or if it was just convienience or fate, but not right then. The bell signalling a two minute warning would ring soon.

"Well uh..." Gabby said, clearing her throat and wiping her eyes. She slowly stood up and accepted Barbara's firm arm when it was offered to her, "as fun as this conversation has been..." Gabby let herself trail off with a small nervous laugh. Barbara nodded, and Gabby took a small step towards her mentor and then back again quickly. She wanted to hug Barbara, since it seemed that sort of moment, but because of where they were, she wasn't sure it was appropriate.

Barbara nodded as if to know Gabby's thoughts and to say she felt the same, just as Gabby had a moment before. Gabby waved with a small smile of her own, wiped her eyes again, and left Barbara's classroom. She saw Mr. Brixton on the steps across the hall from the door talking to another student, and she felt his eyes on her as she hurried down the hall with a grimace on her face as she tried not to limp on her way to her homeroom.