Cass laid back in her hospital bed unhappily, though it wasn't for a lack of comfort. No the room provided by Doctor William was very comfortable more than she had thought possible for a hospital. Her bed was soft yet firm, the same as the one she had at Wayne manor that she had come to love. There was a small tv hanging on the wall, though she only really used it to watch movies. The room had a small couch that her various visitors used. So no, her unhappiness did not stem from her surroundings as she had come to like the semi-spacious, dull-blue room.
Her unhappiness had come from the way all of her visitors had been acting. Stephanie had explained that the League was now very weary of the Doctor who had saved her life, for what reason? He was a killer. Plain and simple the League, or she guessed specifically Batman, were wary of the unknown Doctor because he had killed at some point in the past.
She furrowed her brow at that, what did it matter that the Doctor had killed? So had some of the Leagues associates and even some Leaguers. John Constantine, John Stuart, Terra, Captain Atom, Cheshire, and she was sure Doctor Fate probably has. Her point was that killing alone did not make someone bad, it was their reasoning for doing so that determined that. She could at least attest that not all of his kills were carried out flippantly.
She had seen some of the Doctors memories while their souls were connected and couldn't fault him for some of the things he had done. It was in her opinion that he acted in the best interest of others and that had to count for something.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who thought so, thankfully. Stephanie had told her that there had been a proposal presented by Batman to arrest and interrogate the Doctor. At the vote Batman was largely out voted, his only support came from Canary, Black lightning, and Superman. Although the three supporters cited that they simply wanted to learn as much about the Doctor as possible, mainly to make sure she and his other patients would be safe, not arrest him.
The opposition to his proposal cited results from their investigations into the surrounding neighborhoods and the impact the Doctor had. The main opposition was from Wonder Woman, John Constantine, and Plastic Man. Constantine had fought tooth and nail saying that the doc was, and Stephanie quoted this, 'The only one that gave a rats arse' when everywhere clinics and hospitals outright rejected meta-humans and powered individuals.
Plastic man was adamant that the Doctor be given a fair chance to prove himself a good guy. He went on to argue that he himself had need a second, third, and fourth chance to get his life straight. Wonder Woman had also backed up that claim, being raised as a warrior she understood that sometimes death was a necessity and refused to condemn someone without knowing their reasons for taking a life.
The end result was that the League would continue to investigate the Doctor while the Outsiders and the Team would have members rotating shifts to be with her. It of course also went unsaid that those that were with her were also responsible for watching the other patients, specifically the villainous ones.
That was why she was unhappy, not even ten minutes ago the three that were with her today, that being Windfall, Stargirl, and Blue Beetle, had just been told off by the Doctor and forced to stay in her room. More specifically, Beetle had just been told off.
"How was I supposed to know?!" Beetle asked heatedly standing firmly in front of Stargirl.
"Maybe because he wasn't wrecking anything and, oh I don't know, when the Doc yelled stop!" Courtney heatedly fired back.
The incident in question was apparently Solomon Grundy had shown up and upon seeing the giant, undead, powerhouse Jamie had attacked him believing the zombie to be a threat.
"How was I supposed to know he wasn't here to wreck the place?! It's a hospital not a cemetery!"
"Will both of you blokes knock it off!" Wendy screamed finally having enough. The two stopped and looked back to her frowning. "Beetle screwed up we clarified that yeah? This ain't solving nothin', so the two of ya stop snapping at each other like a pair a angry crocs before the doc shows up and kicks us out permanently."
Cass had to agree, the Doctor was very particular about his patients relaxing and was unafraid of throwing people out. She had already seen it happen to the Riddler and Firefly since neither wanted to tolerate hero's being in the same building as them.
"I couldn't have said that better myself miss Windfall." A voice stated from the door causing Jamie to jump in fright. Behind him stood Doctor William carrying a bottle of water , small plastic cup with some pills, and a clipboard.
The doctor shut the door behind him as he entered the room. "I would ask that you keep your voices down. There may be fewer patients now, but those that are here need their rest. Including Ms. Cain, and if that becomes a problem I will have to bar you from her room unless you're accompanied by staff."
The two hero's at least looked apologetic as the Doctor walked over to Cassandra. "Miss Cain you're certainly coming along better than expected. If you keep going at this rate you'll ready to start moving by next week." He stated with a small smile.
Cass noticed that the Doctor was like this when he talked to his patients. He was happy, his body language relaxed, if it hadn't been apparent before it was now that he loved his work. "Thank you." She replied.
"It's no trouble, I've brought your antibiotic and some water. Having you been feeling any more pain?" He asked.
"No." It was true apparently the docs powers had a strong pain relief effect, somehow.
"Have you had any difficulties eating or drinking?" He asked as he noted down her previous answer on his clipboard.
Cass shook her head negatively and he immediately noted it down. If she was being honest she actually liked when the doctor was around. He was quiet and brought a sense of calm into the room.
"Okay, well so long as things keep going as they are then-"
The doctor suddenly paused and even though it was minuscule his body stiffened. The ever so slight widening of his eyes wasn't lost upon her either. Cass immediately knew something was wrong. The Doctor had a strange sixth sense, that somehow let him know everything going on in and around the hospital. That had been how he knew to have a gurney ready for her when she was brought here. This however was different as immediately he was pretending to play it off as a yawn and doing a really good job at it.
"-ahhh, sorry, as I was saying you should be up and walking by next week if everything keeps on the way it is."
"You good there Doc? Gettin' 'nough rest?" Wendy was quick to ask. She also shifted closer to William, a fact not missed by Cassandra.
"I'm okay miss Windfall, just been a busy day. Solomon was a bit grouchy after earlier." He explained.
Wendy smiled "Just Windfall love and I'm sorry 'bout earlier it won't happen again. I'll make sure of that." She stated causing Stargirl to slightly smirk and Cassandra to frown.
Wendy was going out of her way to add more responsibility for herself? It seemed like she was trying to make herself look dependable, but why? Cass would need to talk to Stephanie about this she was the one that helped her understand others better.
The doctor smiled as he started out of the room. "Thank you Windfall, I appreciate the help." He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Everyone waited a few minutes until his footsteps had disappeared before speaking. The first was Stargirl that was smirking at Wendy.
"So, you like doctors huh?" She asked
Wendy returned the smirk. "What can I say. Docs been nothing but respectful and it doesn't hurt that he's not really mixed up in the craziness of this life….of the life ya know."
"Hmm…. I guess you're right I'm not really looking for anything right now so I guess I just didn't think about it like that."
Jamie raised an eyebrow "Is it really a good idea though? The League doesn't trust him."
Wendy shrugged. "Not part of the League remember, besides instead of sittin' around making' plans they should just ask him a few questions." She then suddenly had an idea and turned to Cassandra. "Hey Cass, you two were in each other's heads yeah? What do you think of 'em?"
Cassandra thought for a moment, what did she think of the doctor? He was nice that was a given, he certainly had a way with people if all the villains here were being respectful. She guessed that the most important thing though was that she felt calm when he was around….she felt safe. That wasn't a bad description of the man himself, especially seeing his memories, he's a neutral party. He doesn't put stock in 'good' or 'evil', he just helps those in need.
After a minute Cass looked to Wendy with a rare smile and gave a thumbs up. While to most it wouldn't seem like much it meant a lot coming from Cass.
Wendy was about to reply when the four heard the distinct sound of shattering glass and a body flying through Cass's window. The intruder stood in front of the broken window with a small smirk on her face.
The hero's eyes widened in horror as they saw Lady Shiva standing before them.
"I've finally found you again, Cassandra." She said about to take a step forward when without warning a purple tendril stabbed into the ground in front of her.
"Now, now, visitation hours may be in, but you need to check in at the front desk Shiva." The collective group looked back towards the now open door to see William standing in it with a League of shadows soldier being strangled by another tendril of purple energy. Windfall grabbed Cassandra and helped her get further away from Shiva while Stargirl and Beetle stood in front of the two protectively.
The woman in question however didn't look perturbed at all. Instead she looked rather pleased. "Ah William I see you've met my daughter." Shiva stated.
"Oh yes she's a lovely young woman, though I think stabbing her was a leap too far." He replied easily.
The hero's watched the interaction warily not sure how to feel about William being on a first name basis with Lady Shiva.
Shiva's pleased expression quickly changed as she eyed the doctor critically before doing so to her daughter. "I have not done anything of the sort."
The statement drew a snort from Beetle causing the woman to scowl at him. "Right, four people were just hallucinating That it was you."
Shiva barely slid her foot forward when in an instant eight tendrils of purple energy surrounded her body each poised for a killing blow.
"Now, now, calm yourself Shiva, I don't want to kill you without at least knowing why you're here." William stated as he moved to stand beside the heroes. With but a thought the shadow soldier he held was thrown past Shiva though the broken window.
Shiva took a breath before she relaxed "You're right, I didn't come here originally for my daughter. I'm here on business from your father." She stated with a smirk.
Williams eyes narrowed slightly. "Whatever could dear old dad want?" He asked sarcastically. The four heroes traded glances all having the same thought that William wasn't on good terms with his father.
"Your father would like you to come to his side. A war is on the rise in the future and he would like his most gifted son to come home." She stated.
William snorted. "Please save the bullshit, what's the real reason. If wanted a golden child he has sister there for him."
"Can a father not make decisions on a whim?" Shiva asked rhetorically.
William scoffed "Vandal Savage does not make decisions based on 'whims'. He's a calculating bastard that would sell his soul if he had one."
There was a sharp gasp as Stargirl looked wide eyed at William. "You're dad is Vandal Savage?!"
William rolled his eyes "Please, you're using the wrong term. The correct term is sperm donor not 'dad', and the bastard has had thousands of kids through his very, very long life."
"Yet none have ever reached your potential, but here you are squandering it as a healer." Shiva stated causing William to grit his teeth. "Do you not remember the thrill of battle, how to tore through your enemies as only a champion could?"
The heroes backed away slightly as they saw William practically snarl. The tendrils that surrounded Shiva now close enough that they could almost pierce her skin.
"Champion? I was an angry kid that had just lost his mother and unlocked his meta-gene. I killed a camp full of terrorists and suddenly dear old dad wants something to do with me?" William asked before he took a deep breath and pulled the tendrils away from Shiva. "I am grateful he taught me how to survive in this world, but I am not joining him. It's as simple as that."
"Very well I will relay this information to your father, but this is an open invitation should you decide to see the light. Cassandra, dear, do try to get along with William I am hoping his father accepts my proposal to have you two wed." Shiva stated before jumping to the destroyed window barely dodging the tendrils as they crashed into where she previously stood. She turned back to him one last time "Your father is insistent that if you're to allow these….. 'heroes' into your care that you have more security. They will be along later this week." Shiva barely had time to leap out the window just barely dodging the tendril that was meant to impale her.
William walked over to the window and sighed seeing as Shiva had disappeared. He turned to Cassandra "No offense, but your moms a total bitch."
She nodded before saying something in sign language the others couldn't understand, but it made William laugh.
"What did she say?" Stargirl asked
William was finally able to get his laughter under control when he answered. "She said, 'yeah you're dads a little bitch too'."
Despite the tense atmosphere the others couldn't help but laugh at Cass's description of Vandal Savage.