Disclaimer: Unfortunately - these absolutely breath-taking women/characters are not mine. L
Some dialogue is taken verbatim from different episodes. No copyright infringement intended. Used to help tell the story. All lyrics and soundbytes used do not belong to me.
This story takes place after the Birds of Prey Series Finale.
Dinah stumbled into the elevator as the doors opened for Oracle and Alfred to exit into the parking garage.
"Dinah! Are you okay? What happened? I couldn't raise you on comms." Barbara reached out to steady the blonde.
"I'm okay. I think I broke my wrist blocking a kick. I don't know. My comm was cutting in and out a bit after Cheshire got a lucky punch to my head. Then, right after Huntress got there, I couldn't hear anything anymore on it.. Just thought maybe you had switched mine off." Dinah panted from the pain.
"Into the Hummer, back seat. Alfred, there should be a wrist splint in the first aid kit. While I get us to the warehouse, can you see what you can do for Dinah?"
"Of course. I didn't attend all those EMT courses for nothing you know." "Why are we going to the warehouse Barbara?" Dinah winced as Alfred gently probed her wrist.
"Cheshire sprayed Huntress in the face with something. She couldn't breathe and I lost contact. When I couldn't raise you on the comm, I decided we needed to get there.. I thought you were both down. Buckle up, this could get a little rough!" Tires squealed as she threw the vehicle in reverse, then again as she gunned it as they headed to the exit of the garage.
As luck would have it, the warehouse was only a couple of minutes from the Clock Tower, with the late hour and lack of traffic; it was easy to get there without having a rough ride.
Having disabled the alarm system on the building, Barbara rammed the hummer through the main loading dock door and pulled up next to Huntress. Alfred and Dinah scrambled out, Alfred gently turned the young woman over and started to take her vitals.
"She has a strong pulse Oracle, but respiratory is non existent. Pupils fixed and dilated. Canary, grab the ambu bag and start pumping oxygen into her lungs."
"Alfred, grab a swab of the substance from around her mouth and nose. We need to know what she's been hit with. Lets get her into the back and to the Tower where I have the equipment for this!"
Between Alfred, Dinah and a hand from Barbara, they were able to maneuver Helena into the back of the hummer and take off. Alfred leaned over the back seat and pumped life saving oxygen into Helena's lungs, while Dinah cradling her arm and leaned against the window praying that Helena was going to be alright.
Getting into her chair that had been left in the parking garage, Barbara wheeled around to the back of the vehicle. With the help of Alfred and Dinah, Helena was placed across Barbara's lap and they all headed up to the Clock Tower. Barbara didn't think there was enough time to get their regular doctor in there and was afraid Helena may need more attention than what skills she possessed.
The first thing they needed was to get Helena breathing on her own if possible and if that wasn't possible then get her on a ventilator. Knowing that Cheshire liked using naturally occurring venoms and poisons, Barbara felt that an epinephrine shot wouldn't hurt. Alfred started a D5W, lactate ringers IV, and Barbara pushed 1 mg of epinephrine. After a minute there was no change outside of a slightly elevated heart rate.
"I think we need to intubate. Alfred, I've only done this on the practice dummies. What if.."
"Miss Barbara, you are the only one here who can do this. WE have faith in you."
Dinah brought over an intubation tray while Barbara washed her hands and donned latex gloves. Rolling over to the head of the bed, she lifted Helena's head just enough to make sure she had a clear airway. Grabbing the laryngoscope, Barbara started the insertion of the endotracheal tube through the larynx and then through the upper trachea.
"I'm in!" Barbara released the breath she had been holding. "Lets hook her up."
Helena was still alive. That's what mattered. Barbara had called Bruce Wayne's doctor and consulted with him on her condition. There were far too many venoms and poisons that could cause the respiratory paralysis and all.. The epi had probably helped by kicking the body's metabolism into high gear. Then there was the metahuman side of the equation. If Helena had been a regular human being, she would more than likely be dead.
Barbara rolled back from the microscope and over to Helena's bedside. There had been no change. She lay there staring up at the ceiling with eyes that looked lifeless. But Barbara knew she was alive.. Her heart still beat, the EEG picked up brain activity. Helena just couldn't breath on her own yet. Dinah's wrist luckily wasn't broken, just badly sprained. To get her out from under Barbara's feet, she was running searches on the Internet on any and all toxins that could cause respiratory paralysis. With each discovery, Barbara would compare the specimen that they had against what Dinah found.. Hours of this and still nothing.
Taking her glasses off, Barbara rubbed her eyes. Not so much from being tired, which she was, but to stop the tears. If she gave into the tears she didn't know if she would be able to stop them. She picked up Helena's hand and brought it up to her lips, kissing the palm softly. "Hang in there, Hel. I'm not going to let you go that easily you know. I can't!" Barbara stopped speaking because she felt the tears threatening to fall again, her voice tightened. "I need you Helena! Even if you are sometimes the biggest pain in the ass that I've ever known!"
"BARBARA!!!! I've got it! I just know I do this time!!!" Dinah came erupting into the sick room. She ran to the computer terminal that they had set up for just this reason. "Look. I kept thinking it had to be a snake venom or something well known, like a puffer fish, but I wasn't finding anything.. So I just opened up the search and ran across this!"
Dinah looked up and had a grin from ear to ear as she swiveled the monitor around for Barbara to see.. On the screen was a picture of an octopus.
"Dinah - an octopus?" One burnished eyebrow reaching the matching hairline.
"Not just any octopus, a blue-ringed octopus! Found in the Great Barrier Reef." Almost jumping up and down in excitement, Dinah continued, "It says here.." reading from the screen, "The bite might be painless, but this octopus injects a neuromuscular paralyzing venom. The venom contains some maculotoxin, a poison more violent than any found on land animals. The nerve conduction is blocked and neuromuscular paralysis is followed by death. The victim might be saved if artificial respiration starts before marked cyanosis and hypertension develops."
Not being able to take Dinah stumbling over the words, Barbara pulled closer and picked up the oration. "Depending on how much venom has been transferred into the wound, the onset of symptoms can be quite rapid. Within five to ten minutes, the victim begins to experience parasthesia and numbness, progressive muscular weakness, and difficulty breathing and swallowing. Nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances and difficulty speaking may also occur. In severe cases, this is followed by flaccid paralysis and respiratory failure, leading to unconsciousness and death due to cerebral anoxia. Interestingly, the victim's heart continues to beat until extreme asphyxia sets in. Some victims report being conscious, but unable to speak or move. They may even appear clinically dead with pupils fixed and dilated. Not all bites result in the transfer of venom. The severity of symptoms is dose-dependent. Smaller adults and especially children are most at risk. She stopped reading aloud and continued until she saw 'There's no known antidote'.
Scrolling back up through the article again.. Barbara kept looking for any phrase that would stop her heart from trying to break through her rib cage.
'Prolonged artificial respiration may also be required. May require supportive treatment including mechanical ventilation until the effects of the toxin disappear.' So Helena could survive. They just needed to keep her on the breathing rig long enough.
She went back to the microscope and had Delphi start looking for a comparison sample. Once it was found Barbara ran them both through the Delphi unit to see if Dinah was right.
Dinah felt the minutes passing like hours. She was so on edge she was pacing back and forth between Helena's bed and Barbara's chair. Finally Barbara sat back with an incredibly huge sigh. Dinah ran to her side to be grabbed around the waist. Barbara buried her head against the young woman's ribs and allowed herself to cry. She looked up into Dinah's worried face, 'You did it kiddo!! You did it. That's what it is! There is still another element in there, but I think this is the major piece we are dealing with." Dinah wrapped her arms around Barbara in a huge hug and they both called Alfred at the same time.
"Looks like we did everything we were supposed to with out even knowing it. I want to push another bag of D5W and see if we can get this to flush out of her system any quicker."
"I think this calls for a cup of tea and food for both of you, don't you Miss Barbara?" Alfred asked smiling.
"I think you're right, but I am going to stay here with Helena for a bit."
"I will bring you a tray." The gentleman butler replied, with a wink.
"Thank you Alfred. Thank you to both of you. Today proves just how much I rely on both of you, all of you. I don't know what I would do without you!!" Barbara said as a tear rolled down her face.
Barbara hugged Dinah again, "Go get the phone so I can call the school and tell them we both won't be in today."
"Barbara, I really need to go to school. I have a huge test in geometry today that I can't afford to miss. Well, that and I have a lunch date…" The blonde turned away and blushed. "And now that I know Helena is going to be okay… You don't need to call, at least for me."
"Oooo, a lunch date?? Who with?" Barbara teased.
Turning around with a typical teenage, 'I can't believe you said that' expression, "I thought only Helena got to tease me!"
Barbara turned to look at the woman in the bed and smiled, "I thought I would do it for her since she can't for herself right now." She winked at Dinah, which won her a huge smile from the girl.
"I better go get ready for school.. I hope Alfred makes breakfast sandwiches… I'm starved!" Dinah said as she exited the room. Barbara could hear Dinah continue to describe what she wanted to eat as she walked to her room, "Those little ones on the croissants with lots of cheese and sausage and ……"
Barbara smiled to herself and shook her head, then went to sit next to Helena's bed again. "Well, since you can probably hear me, and you can't say a damn thing back, I'm going to take the opportunity to lay a few cards on the table, Miss Kyle. I know, you are probably mentally already planning something diabolical to get back at me before I even start… After you recover from this, you and Dinah are both going to have to wear full protective gear. That includes a mask! I can't be going through this on a nightly basis! Not knowing if the two of you are alive or not. One thing I am willing to concede is that you have a say in how the mask looks, not how it functions. I want your entire face and throat protected. There are just too many venoms, toxins and poisons that can be absorbed through the skin."
Barbara pulled her pin light out and checked Helena's pupils. She checked them again. Alfred came in and set a tray down on the work surface. "Alfred, come and check this out. I think I'm seeing a reaction from Helena's pupils."
Alfred walked over and took the pin light and copied the motion that Barbara had just gone through. "I do believe you are correct. It is the smallest amount of reaction, but it is a reaction." He handed the light back to Barbara, a smile on his face. "If you will be alright for a bit, I need to run and get groceries. I just can't seem to keep enough food in your apartment. Where does it all go?" Alfred winked at Barbara, then exited. "Helena, baby, you just keep fighting this. I won't leave you. I'm going to be just over at the desk working on Dinah's comm. Won't be far." Barbara squeezed Helena's hand a little and headed toward the desk.
An hour later, after finding a short in Dinah's comm link and getting some nourishment into her body, she rolled back over to check on Helena. Her pupils were more reactive. Testing to see if her respiratory functions where back, she unhooked the oxygen. Nothing there yet. She rolled her shoulders after she hooked the oxygen back up. Alfred walked in at that moment. "Miss Barbara, why don't you get some rest? I'll stay with Miss Helena." He offered.
"I promised her I wouldn't leave her. But maybe she won't mind for me to slip off long enough to grab a soak in the whirlpool in the training room. My shoulder's and neck are one big knot right now."
"I am sure she would understand. I of course will call if there is any change."
"Thanks Alfred. I'll be back in a few minutes Helena. Oh Alfred, I just checked and the pupils continue to be more reactive, but she still isn't breathing on her own. I'm thinking that whatever Cheshire mixed in with the venom is keeping the toxin active in her system. While I'm soaking, could you call the doctor and see if we could push another milligram of epinephrine to help flush her system."
"I'll do that - and see if he has any other suggestions."
"Ok, won't be long." Barbara started to head out the door, pausing for a moment to look back at the woman lying in the bed.
Barbara made her way into the training room, changed into a swimsuit, and then pulled herself into the whirlpool. She set the timer for just 10 minutes. She didn't want to be gone any longer than need be from Helena. She leaned her head back to rest for just a second.
"Miss Barbara. You need to wake up now. Miss Helena needs you." Alfred's voice came sharply over the intercom.
Barbara jerked awake and found that the whirlpool was off. "Alfred. What's wrong?" She was already pulling her self up out of the pool and grabbed a robe around her body.
"I think she is fighting the ventilator." Alfred sounded worried.
"I'm almost there." Thank God I had the intercoms installed everywhere and they are voice activated Barbara thought.
She wheeled into the room and up to the bedside. Disconnecting the oxygen tube from the endotracheal tube, Helena took her first breath on her own in many hours. "Thank goodness! Helena, I need to take the tube out then we will put an oxygen mask on you." Barbara explained what she was doing, as she was doing it.
Helena coughed very little as the tube came out, not the usual gag reflex reaction, which meant the toxin was still present. Barbara placed the oxygen mask on Helena's face and checked her pupils. Helena moved her eyes to look at Barbara, a myriad of emotions playing through them. Terror and fear slowly dissolved to recognition, and then to trust. Her eyes focused more strongly on Barbara's face and tears started to roll out of the corners of her eyes.
Barbara caught the tears with her finger and whispered, with her own tears flowing down her cheeks, "Hey, bout time you came back to me. Do you know how long I've been looking for you??"
Helena blinked. Barbara could swear there was just a hint of a smile shining through her eyes. She explained to Helena what had happened.. How long she had been out for the count. Alfred in the meantime replaced the saline bag with a fresh one. Helena never took her eyes from Barbara's face. So far her breathing and the eye movement was all she had recovered.
"Miss Barbara, now that Miss Helena is awake, why not go get into dry clothes."
"Yeah - guess that would be a good thing. Alfred, how long was I asleep in there? And just how did you know I was asleep?"
"Well, when you didn't return after 15 minutes, I quickly went to check on you. Saw you were asleep, in no danger of slipping under the water and came back here. In all, you were asleep about 45 minutes." Alfred logically explained.
"I see. I'll be right back. You try and get some rest." Barbara told Helena, who responded with a blink.
The day wore on slowly. Dinah came home from school, excited and exhausted all at once. Her lunch date had gone very well, she informed Barbara, but was still not saying just whom it was with. She sat in with Helena for a little while, who now had complete eye movement, could move her head, and wiggle her fingers and toes. While Dinah sat with Helena, Barbara used the time to get onto the Delphi at the main console and see if she could figure out what the average recovery time was for the blue ringed octopus venom. 'It may be something to do with the metahuman aspect? I would think that would help speed the recovery.' She thought to herself.
"Barbara, Helena pinched me!! She pinched me!" Dinah squealed.
"That's great!! Well, not great… but great!!" Barbara said as she headed back to the sick room.
There was a mischievous twinkle in Helena's eyes, the slightest upward curve of her lips when her gaze fell on Barbara. Dinah let out a huge yawn which Barbara's reply was for her to go to bed.
"But what about sweeps?" Dinah asked.
"Sweeps will be on hold until we come up with protective gear against the possible attack of venom from Cheshire! That combined with the fact that you haven't slept in over 24 hours…" Barbara just had that look in her eye that made Dinah back down and say good night. She gave Barbara a big hug and went to give one to Helena, paused and looked into her eyes.. And gave her a kiss on the cheek instead. "I'm glad you're back Hel." Dinah said softly, then headed out and up to her room.
"Well, since you have the ability to pinch, is there anything else that can move yet? Try and say something."
Helena was able to open her mouth just a little, but the vocal chords were still mostly paralyzed. All that came out was a squeak. She could now move her arms a little bit. Her body was slowly coming back. It was just going to take time.
To help pass the time, Barbara grabbed a book that she used to read to Helena when she was little "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. Helena at first rolled her eyes, but soon was caught up in the story just like she used to be. Except this time Barbara wasn't interrupted every five minutes with questions. After a couple of chapters, Barbara looked up and noticed that Helena had fallen asleep. She figured it would be ok to slip out to the kitchen long enough to grab a glass of wine. When she got back, Helena was rolling her head back and forth making mewing noises.
"Helena, its ok. I'm here. It's alright. You're going to be fine.. Easy baby, its ok." She stroked Helena's cheek and forehead until the brunette relaxed. 'It must be total hell being trapped in a body that won't respond for her. She is so wild and free.. So physical. I just hope this wears off soon.'
Barbara sat next to Helena's bed, just watching the woman sleep while she sipped her wine. For once her mind was quiet and she allowed herself to just be. She began to nod off after a little while and set her glass down, not wanting to drop the glass should she actually fall asleep. She checked Helena's vitals around midnight and then, finally giving into the exhaustion, drifted off to sleep leaning onto the bed, her head next to Helena's hand. Somewhere in the night, she had a dream that she was being picked up by two sets of hands and placed in a warm bed, a cocoon really, and she fell into an even deeper slumber.
There were little voices bouncing off the walls and echoing through the room. Something about Scooby snacks and goblins, and there was an ever present giggle and the awful smell of those cardboard pastry things.
"Coffee.. please." The red head started requesting before even opening her eyes. As consciousness came to her, she realized that she wasn't in her chair, her bed, or on the couch. She had no idea where she was. She opened her eyes that felt like they were full of sand, and looked around. As she scanned the room, she made contact with two very brilliant blue eyes that were shining and smiling.
"Here you go Miss Barbara, I thought you might be asking for this. I made it extra strong for you this morning." Alfred handed her a cup of coffee. Helena reached and gingerly took it until Barbara could position herself so that she was somewhat upright.
"You can move!" Barbara exclaimed.
"And talk - a little.." came a very raspy response. Handing Barbara her coffee, Huntress whispered carefully,. "I still feel very weak. Dinah helped me up a little while ago. It felt good to walk - even if it was only to the bathroom. And Alfred has given me some clear broth that tasted like hot water. He said I couldn't have any real food until you woke up and Okayed it."
Barbara smiled at Helena and interrupted, "For being able to talk a little, that was a lot! All right, we know you have a majority of your motor functions back now. And you're hungry?" Helena shook her head up and down with a pitiful hurt puppy look on her face. "Alfred, could you please make Helena one of those wonderful protein shakes that she loves so much.. And put some aloe juice and spirulina in it as well please."
"I hate the green stuff.. Don't put it in there.. Why can't I have bacon and eggs?" Helena pouted.
"Because I want you to have something healthy for your body to work with - not fat and cholesterol. Besides, I have a feeling that Dinah has already slipped you one of those jelly filled cardboard things you two like so much. Don't even try to deny it… I can smell it!"
Helena just crossed her arms across her chest and continued to pout.
"Next on the agenda is, how did I get in the bed with you? You didn't.." Helena was shaking her head no before her vocal cords would spit out the word, when Dinah came in and answered for her.
"I came down during the night to see how things were going. You were asleep all slumped over with your head on the bed. Helena was actually sitting up awake. Between the two of us we were able to get you up and into the bed so you would sleep better and not be a pretzel this morning. By the way - my wrist is better already. Cool huh?"
"Yeah, way cool, but you still need to take it easy. Ok, I need to get out of this bed. I have things to do." Barbara said, handing her cup to Dinah and shifting her legs so that she was in a better position to get into her chair. Helena made a move to help her, which Barbara quickly stopped with a look. She allowed Dinah to help as far as moving her chair closer to the bed, but that was it.
Once she was settled, she gave strict instructions that Helena was to stay in bed and drink every drop of the protein shake Alfred made for her, Dinah was to go to school. She would be back in a few minutes. Barbara had a few phone calls to make. Barbara didn't feel right about putting the school in a position to have a substitute take over her class for a month, but she had a stronger need drawing her to be here until Helena was 100% recovered. She wanted to oversee all the rehabilitation, making sure the young brunette didn't over do it and hurt herself. At the back of Barbara's mind there was also a little niggling voice that kept telling her, it was because she was scared to death of losing the breathtaking woman, and couldn't think of letting her out of her sight; hence, the leave of absence.
Entering the sick room, Barbara saw Dinah talking animatedly to Helena, who actually seemed to be enjoying the story. She also noticed the empty glass that looked to have held a protein shake.
"Dinah, I think you had better get a move on if you don't want to be late for school. Come on, I'll walk you to the elevator." The teen jumped off the bed and was heading for the door in a flash.
"Dinah, I wanted to tell you, I took a leave of absence from school. I want to over see Helena's recovery. No doubt you will hear all kinds of stories at school, so I wanted to let you know ahead of time."
"Never hurts to be prepared. But I doubt there will be much in the way of gossip, at least not with the kids. Barbara, don't you know that most of the kids love having you as a teacher!"
"I guess I didn't. I just figured that the students felt the same about all teachers, that they are just another part of the system to keep kids under the 'establishment's thumb' as it were."
Dinah just laughed and shook her head. "I'll see you tonight. I'll have my newly fixed comm on incase you need anything." With that, the elevator door closed.
Helena was sitting on the edge of the bed. It looked like she was thinking about getting off the bed, but not quite sure about it. "Where do you think you are going?" Barbara asked, as she wheeled in through the door.
"I can't stand being in this room, this prison, one second longer Barbara. I need room, you know - space!" Helena whispered vehemently.
Thinking she understood what Helena was talking about, she rolled on over to the bed side, handed Helena a robe, and said, "Do you think you are strong enough to get up to my room? Maybe having all those windows will help you to feel less trapped. I may even let you take a nice hot bath."
"Yes!"
"Okay, I want you to hold on to the back of chair for support. If you start to feel too weak, you tell me."
While still seated, Helena put the robe on, slowly stood up, and held on to the back of Barbara's chair. Once in the elevator, she took a big breath and leant over Barbara, resting her forehead on one of Barbara's shoulders. "God, who would have thought I would get this tired just walking to the elevator."
"You ok, want a ride?" Barbara teased as she turned her head just slightly to look at the brunette.
"I may." Helena replied lifting her head enough to bring her eyes even with the red head's.
The doors opened and Barbara set a slower pace out of the elevator than that of going in. They made it to her room with out incident and Helena promptly collapsed into the bed. "I just need a minute.." She said as she promptly fell asleep. Barbara went over and covered her up, deciding she would take the opportunity to get a shower.
While Barbara was in the shower, Helena had managed to crawl up to the head of the bed, and latch onto Barbara's pillow. She now held it as if it was a teddy bear. Barbara covered the woman back up, checked her pulse, and decided that Helena was truly just sound asleep. Her body was doing what it needed to do - rest. She jotted a quick note and left it on the bedside table, letting Helena know she was downstairs should she awaken.
Barbara went to the main Delphi console and started looking at the designs that Bruce had used for his protective gear. She wanted to see what she could use from that instead of starting at square one. She knew that Bruce, as Batman, had gone up against more than one adversary that used a poison or toxin as a weapon, so he must have taken that into account on some of his equipment.
The gloves would have to be flexible and breathable; yet stop any thing from passing through to the skin. They would need to feel like a second skin. Barbara worked on a multitude of ideas throughout the day.
Alfred had cleaned up the sick room and made lunch. Helena hadn't awakened, so he placed the shake into the refrigerator and headed off for his daily routine at the Manor.
Dinah had come home, done her homework, made dinner for herself and Barbara and was now on her way to Gabby's. Barbara went up to check on Helena, who still hadn't moved an inch from the morning. Her vitals were still strong, so Barbara wasn't worried. She decided she needed to burn off a little bit of the edginess she felt and changed. She headed down to the training room for a workout.
Not paying attention or caring what was in the stereo, she turned it on just to have something in the background. She smiled a little when she realized it was one of Helena's special mixes, or that's what Helena called them. This one must have been for one of her more violent moods thought Barbara, a non-stop beat that pounded through the room. It would do. When working out, Barbara could release all the emotion that she usually kept bottled up. All the anger, frustration, fear, and pain - it would all pour out through her movements.
Starting with her resistance training, the redhead kept up a steady pace, almost like circuit training. Pushing the amount of resistance until her muscles would scream. Then onto the next exercise. About an hour into her workout, the CD started over, Barbara moved to the body dummy to work with her escrima sticks. Timing her strikes to the music proved to be a good challenge that made Barbara smile in an almost feral way.
Barbara had her transponder on, so she was able to move her chair hands-free and was just going to town on the dummy.
Barbara kept working her attack movements to the head. As she went through the routine, she kept picturing Cheshire - striking the head and shoulders over and over.
Backing up and taking a deep breath - she started the routine from the top, this time with more force behind her strikes.
On the last drumbeat of the song, Barbara knocked the head off the dummy. Barbara put the escrima away and went over to climb onto her inversion table. She strapped a couple of 5 pound weighted cuffs around her wrists to add a degree of difficulty.
Her body was getting weary - so she quit trying to keep in time with the music. She took her time pulling her torso up using her abs. She would do a set of 15. Rest for a minute - then repeat. About half way through her workout on the table, she noticed that the lights had dimmed and the music had changed. She stopped, arms hanging above her head, almost touching the floor. "Dinah?" She called out. No answer. "Alfred?" No answer. "Helena." She stated, not questioning any longer. There were only 3 people who could get into the Tower. But there was no answering response. She only had one more set to finish, so she went ahead and did so.
The redhead let her body hang upside down while she removed the weighted cuffs from her wrists and let them drop to the floor. The sound of an organ echoed through the room. She stopped and looked around, spotting a shadow in the doorway. She watched enthralled as Helena emerged from the shadow into pale light. Moving, gliding, almost stalking Barbara as her prey, the dark haired woman advanced. Hair still dripping from the obviously hurried shower she must have taken before coming to the training room
Helena stopped and pulled the inversion table over to bring Barbara face to face with the brunette. When Barbara opened her mouth to say something, a slender finger was placed on her lips, Helena leant in, and Oracle heard "ssshhh" softly whispered into her ear.
Helena placed a supporting hand on Barbara's sternum, while she bent down to release the woman from the straps that held her feet to the table. Barbara watched every move, mesmerized that on the one hand Helena seemed to be fully recovered, worried on the other that she should be resting. The redhead felt a strange excitement building in the middle because she had no idea what the younger woman was up to.
Helena straightened and looked Barbara in the eyes, smiled, eyes closed half way, looking very sultry. Barbara felt her heart beat increase, and Helena's smile increased. She of course could hear the reaction Barbara's heart was having.
Helena stepped within Barbara's personal space, slipping an arm around the woman's waist and the other under her legs, lifting her away from the table. Helena held Barbara close, holding her weight easily. Barbara placed her hands on Helena's shoulders. Again she opened her mouth to say something, and once again she was stopped by Helena, and told to hush.
"I had a lot of time to think while my body held me prisoner Barbara. A lot of time to fixate on regrets; regrets of things that I should have said; should have done. Silent promises that if I ever made it out of that hell, I would not let a moment pass without correcting it. I would let those who I care about know how I feel. This morning, when Dinah was in talking to me, I told her how lucky I was to have her for a sister. I told Alfred that he is like a grandfather to me. That leaves you, Barbara. I have yet to tell you." Helena cupped Barbara's head and brought their cheeks together. Whispering into Barbara's ear, she caused uncontrollable shivers through the red head, "I have so very much I want to tell you Barbara."
As the next song began, Helena quieted and started singing softly. She had a wonderful, dusky, sultry, liquid velvet voice. Barbara wrapped her arms around Helena pulling her tight and they started to sway to the music. The older woman buried her head into Helena's neck, breathing in the intoxicating scent of the woman holding her close.
The music moved faster and so did Helena, dipping, swaying, and moving her body with Barbara as if they were one entity. It took Barbara's breath away. All she could do was to hold on.
The music came to a finish. They stood, melded together as one. Slowly, Helena leant down and placed Barbara into her chair, kissing her cheek. She knelt in front of the red head. Taking Barbara's hands in her own, she held Barbara's gaze, unwavering. "Barbara, I do fear - so much! That I have nothing to give you. That I could lose you. I thought I had lost you. And you didn't know how I felt. About you. I could hear you talking to me while I lay there, in my own body that had become my prison. Not feeling anything, not seeing anything. Captured in total darkness. I was so scared. Every time you would say something, a flame would flicker, slowly growing stronger. You were my anchor. You were my light. You always have been." Helena paused, just looking in to Barbara's eyes, noticing the darker ring of green around the outside of the iris, the flecks of gold that caught the light.
Thinking Helena was done speaking, Barbara took a breath to speak. "No Barbara, this is my turn to talk and your turn to listen. I'm just unsure of how to proceed from here. I don't think I could continue to live if .. if you turned away from me. If you shut me out of your life. But I can't hold back what I feel any longer. You have to know. In case anything happens - again. Barbara, I …" Helena closed her eyes for a second. Brought her gaze back to Barbara, "I'm … I'm in lo-"
Before she could get the words out, Barbara leant forward and brought their lips together. Soft, tentative, unsure. She pulled back and rested her forehead against Helena's. "Me too." Tears started to roll down Barbara's face, unchecked for once. She cupped Helena's cheek with a shaking hand, "I don't know when my feelings started to change, from protective guardian, to so much more, but they have."
"Barbara, I'm in love with you. I want you to hear it from my lips." Helena's eyes glowed faintly, not the red, angry feral glow, but something far softer yet still wild. She gathered Barbara into her arms, pulling her onto her lap, then captured her love's lips in a passionate, possessive kiss. Barbara moaned, allowing her lips to part slightly, the Huntress slipped her tongue into Barbara's mouth, exploring, teasing, and demanding more from Barbara. A growl was heard from deep within the Huntress' chest. Helena pulled her head back when the need for oxygen overrode the passion. "I love you." She whispered.
Barbara opened her eyes and looked at Helena's face that was hidden in shadow from the low lighting in the room. Her eyes were luminescent, golden. Barbara had never realized Helena's eyes would change from emotions outside of anger. She had often wondered, and now she had her answer. Barbara was breathlessly speechless at what she saw in the younger woman's eyes. She caught her lower lip in her teeth unconsciously. Her hand finding it's way to Helena's face, traced the voluptuous lips with her thumb. The golden glow was momentarily hidden as Huntress' lids closed in answer, her thumb taken into the luscious mouth and nipped.
Barbara jerked her hand back without thinking and gasped as she felt the nip echo throughout her entire body. She laughed, embarrassed, and captured Helena's lips. This time it was Oracle's turn to be the one in control, to be demanding, exploring every millimeter of the seductress' mouth. Barbara suddenly felt as if she was falling, weightless, until she felt that she was being laid down on the mat. Helena moved her body to lie on top of the fiery woman. The Huntress was starting to lose control. Taking a hold of the bottom of Barbara's tank top the feline woman pulled it up. Her tongue danced along the already quivering abs. Barbara's breath came in gasps, her mind telling her that they needed to slow down, yet her hands wanted to rip the clothes off the woman turning her stomach into a snack. Barbara said "Helena…" but it didn't sound like her voice, so weak and airy. She tried to get the other woman's attention again. "Helena.." this time a little louder.
"Hmmmm?" was heard from the red heads stomach region.
"Wait, please." Barbara could barely get the request out. 'God I can't believe I said that!'
"No… don't want to.." Helena continued to nibble on Barbara's stomach, up to her ribs.
Unable to hold back a chuckle at Helena's impetuous behavior, "Helena… Huntress, I think this would be too soon …"
A heavy sigh was heard as Helena stopped and moved to rest her head on Barbara's chest. She closed her eyes and listened to the heart pounding below her ear. She smiled, lifted her head, and looked at Barbara. She had never seen her eyes this green before. They were so vibrant, almost blinding. "Alright, you're probably right. It's just that, I feel like I've waited so long for this… to tell you, to kiss you." Helena growled, "To have you." She took a deep breath. "And it really hasn't been that long. I only realized that I was in love with you the day I took you on our picnic…." Now that she had totally embarrassed herself, Helena's face turned a deep crimson. 'Hadn't meant to admit that now.'
"Somehow, I know what you mean." Barbara responded, wishing sometimes she could be the less responsible woman she once was. She pushed herself up onto her elbows, and looked at Helena, half laying on top of her. "You know, I could get used to seeing you in this position." She said teasing the brunette.
"Hey- don't you start.. You're the one who called a halt to my play!"
"Sorry- I just couldn't resist. We do need to stop here.. For now. You aren't recovered yet." Barbara said softly.
Helena sat up and just nodded. As Barbara sat up too, Helena reached her arm below Barbara's legs and wrapped the other around her waist. Barbara helped by holding Helena around her shoulders and neck. Lifting the red head, Huntress once again placed Barbara in the wheel chair.
Bringing her mind back to the task as hand, Helena thought about what she needed to do in regards to Cheshire. She stood, reaching for Barbara's hand. "Until that bitch is off the streets Barbara, I don't think I will have a moments peace. I will not allow her to do what she did to me to anyone else." She bent down and kissed Barbara softly, firmly, and left no doubt that Barbara was now hers.
Helena turned to leave, but Barbara tightened her grip on her hand. "Where are you going?"
"I'm heading out to find that lame-assed masked green spandex wearing bimbo to kick her ass!"
"I don't think so Huntress. Did you not listen to what I just said? You are an hour out of your sick bed. If I won't let you make love to me, what makes you think I will let you go out to kick anyone's ass." Helena opened her mouth to argue, and was met with the hand. "Please, Helena, for once, please just listen to me. You were there earlier when I told Dinah we needed to make sure the both of you are protected." Helena stopped and turned.
Anyone could see the internal struggle that raged inside, as she shifted from one foot to the other. On the one hand, Huntress was pissed and wanted revenge - now. On the other hand, Helena wanted to listen to the woman who she had just given her heart to.
Barbara watched. This was a choice Helena needed to make on her own. Helena turned and walked out of the training room, across the hall and out onto the balcony looking out over the city. She wrapped her arms around her. She felt cold, tired, aching, and angry. So angry that when she looked out at the sky, the light from the city reflecting off the clouds looked red. Blood red. Slowly, the music she had left playing made its way through her inner conflict "in the arms of an angel, fly away from here"
She turned; Barbara had followed as far as the hallway and was patiently waiting for her decision. The red faded away from her vision, to be replaced by a subtle golden glow. Her angel.
Barbara knew Helena had won the struggle over the Huntress when the woman turned around and her eyes faded from the red glow of anger to the golden glow she had never seen before tonight. She realized, that she would probably be the only one who ever saw that golden light coming from Helena's eyes. She lifted her arm and held her hand out to Helena.
Helena walked toward Barbara, feeling a little bashful; she took the offered hand, "I'm hungry! Let's go see what Alfred left in the refrigerator. I can have real food, right? No more green shakes?" She looked hopefully down to the red head, "You can tell me what your plan is for capturing this bimbo that had the nerve to try and kill me!"
Barbara chuckled and they headed to the kitchen.
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