The Wayne Legacy: Rise
By BetterInTexas
Chapter 21:
World Between Worlds
Kara sat on the beach, her legs stretched out on the sand. She was sitting between her father’s legs, laid back to rest on his chest, his strong arms wrapped around her.
Kara’s mother was by her side, holding on to her hand.
Both parents were looking very worried.
The sun that had been so bright all day was going down. The door of light at the ocean’s edge had opened up again. Kara stared at it longingly but didn’t make a move for it.
“I’m getting colder.” She finally whispered after long hours of silence. Thomas held her tighter.
“I’m feeling cold inside. My body… something feels wrong. I’m sleepy too and I haven’t even had my pill.” She added softly.
Thomas gritted his teeth and looked at Martha, who placed a hand on Kara’s cooling cheek.
“Kara, you need to stay awake.” She encouraged her daughter. “Diana will be back soon, the sun will be out again, and you will feel warm.”
“I can stay awake if I go through the door. It’s bright over there. It’s warm inside too, isn’t it?” Kara asked but she already knew. Over there was peace, never being sick again, never feeling pain.
“You will feel better soon.” Martha promised, a tear sliding down her face. “It isn’t your time to go through that door, Bunny. Diana is fighting for you. She will succeed, and you will feel better.”
“Can you see her?” Kara perked up a little at the mention of her sister.
Martha and Thomas looked at each other.
“No,” Thomas admitted, “she is someplace we cannot see her, but she will be back… her and Bruce. They will win and you won’t feel sick again. I promise you.”
Kara sighed. She felt wrong. The times in the past when she had visited this place, a place she knew was a waystation of sorts, a crossroads between the living and the dead, it has always been peaceful. She had always felt rested, even energized. The weather was always perfect, and the sun never set.
This time was distinctly different.
“I’m getting closer and closer to death, aren’t I?” She asked her parents. “Soon, I won’t have a choice. I will have to go through the door. My body is shutting down. That’s why I feel so weird inside. That’s why I am so cold. I’m about to die.”
Thomas let out a breath. “If it comes to that, I will carry you through myself, but it won’t. Just sit here and let me hold you, okay, Bunny?”
“Okay, Daddy, that sounds good… I’m too tired to walk.” Kara replied, feeling more and more tired by the minute. “Can I sleep for a little while?”
“No, you can’t! Keep talking to me.” Martha patted Kara on the cheek, squeezing the hand she was still holding. “Tell me the things you still want to do. Tell me about the pyramids, the Amazon Rainforest. Tell me about England and Wales. Tell me about Greece and Rome. Keep talking to me, Kara.”
Kara struggled, but found she was able to focus on her mother’s face. As if in a trance, she started sharing her dreams with her parents. “I found a cave system, undiscovered, outside of Jerusalem with an advanced, underground scanning system on my personal satellite. I haven’t told anyone. I always hoped I would be the one to explore it first. It’s most likely just a forgotten catacomb, but it could be more. I thought, maybe one day, I might lead an expedition into it.”
“What else?” Martha encouraged her to keep talking.
“I know where Aztlan is. Or at least I think I do. I believe I have traced the patterns of the great migration of myth, found nuggets of truth in those myths and have formed a route. When I looked at it from above, I can see an outline of what could be man-made structures, near where…”
“Do you want to go anywhere besides unstable tunnels and lost cities in dangerous rainforests filled with snakes, poisonous lizards and things that can eat you?” Thomas asked, exasperated.
Kara thought for a moment. “Of course. I want to see the world, but I also want to discover it. I want to walk where others haven’t gone.
“I’d like to visit Iceland, maybe stay at the Blue Lagoon. I want to visit all of Europe. I have no desire to go to Siberia, too cold, though parts of Russia would be fascinating to see.”
Kara paused and let go of Martha’s hand, placing her own on her chest. “My heart hurts. It feels… I don’t know… like its… now it feels like its fading away. My lungs are getting… heavy? It’s hard to breathe.”
“Hang on, Kara.” Martha encouraged her. “Hang on as long as you can.”
“I always wanted to take you snow skiing.” Thomas added, wishing, hoping and praying Diana and Bruce would hurry. As much as he and Martha would love to have their baby with them, it wasn’t her time. She had too much to see… too much to do. She hadn’t fallen in love, seen the world, traveled the seven seas, gone to carnivals, or other celebrations. There was so much life she had yet to live.
“Hurry up, Diana.” Martha whispered her plea on the wind, hoping her eldest daughter could hear her.
She was beginning to truly despair for her youngest when she noticed the light was slowly getting brighter. Looking at Thomas, she saw the wonder and relief on his face, seeing the sun was beginning to rise again over their island.
“Do you see that, Bunny?” Thomas asked, hugging her close to him, even as Martha leaned in, wrapping her arms around both of them. “The sun is coming up. The door is closing. How do you feel?”
Kara noticed her body was beginning to feel warm again and the uncomfortable pressure inside her body was lessening.
“What is going on?” She asked, finally noticing the sun was rising.
“You are getting better.” Martha explained, tears in her eyes, a wide smile on her face. “This happened before when you began getting better. Soon you will be asleep and then your eyes will open. You will be where you belong.”
Kara understood. She did remember this from before though she had never felt as bad as she did this time. The previous visits were peaceful.
“I have to leave you both.” She realized. “I…”
“Your sister and brother need you, Kara.” Thomas told her, his head right beside hers as he hugged her to him one last time, kissing her temple before breaking his hold and sliding back to stand.
Kara shook her head. “After this, Diana will never let me out of the manor.”
Thomas smiled, helping Martha up before he helped Kara stand on steadier feet. “You might be surprised. In fact, I know you will be. Life will be different for you, Bunny.”
“I’m going to miss you both.” Kara said, a catch in her voice, reaching out and taking their hands.
“We will always be with you, my baby girl.” Martha assured her. “Kara, remember to let go of your guilt. If you remember nothing else, remember that.
“Pull yourself and your siblings out of that alley. It has to be you, Kara… they can’t do it without your help. You are the glue that holds them together. Don’t let them get lost in the darkness. Bruce will need the most help. Forgive him, forgive yourself. Life is too short to hold onto anger.”
“I’ll try, Mom.” Kara promised. “It won’t be easy.”
“Nothing worth doing ever is.” Thomas told her. “Goodbye, my Supergirl. We will see you again, when it’s your time. We will show you wonders you never dreamed of.”
“We love you.” Martha and Thomas kissed her on her cheek and then faded before her eyes.
She was alone and began to cry.
She wasn’t sure if she were crying for what she was losing, or what was to come. For joy or sadness. Perhaps she was just crying to let all her emotions out. She had no idea how long she had been in this place. She didn’t know what she would be waking up to. She knew she would have fuzzy memories that she would write off as barely remembered dreams of what she had experienced here.
Would her body be ravaged like last time? Would she need physical therapy? Would Diana keep her locked away like a princess in a very nice tower?
But her parents had promised her life would be different, so Kara took a deep breath, wiped the tears from her face and smiled. No matter what happened, she would have a chance to find out and she knew when her life was over, her parents would be waiting for her.
Closing her eyes, she felt the dream begin to fade. As she felt herself waking, she heard voices floating around her… voices of those she loved as much as those she could no longer hear.
Wayne Manor
The trio of heroes arrived in the blink of an eye at the back door of the manor. Judging by the echo of thunder, a bolt of lightning had sent them here. Before the security guards could look closer at the back of the house, the three rushed in and closed the door behind them.
“Traveling in a bolt of lightning wasn’t as bad as I thought.” Dig remarked as the three stopped to catch their breath.
Diana looked toward the library, her worry palatable. “If she isn’t better… we have no way back. We would have to… if she has… Bruce…”
Bruce put his hands on both her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “She is better, Diana. You did it.”
Diana settled down, seeing the belief in her brother’s eyes. Breathing deeply, she tried to push away the fears she would continue to have until she could lay eyes on Kara, but first things first.
“We did it… all three of us.” Diana told them. “We need to talk about what Kara needs to know and what she doesn’t.”
The two men agreed. Many things had happened on Themyscira, and they needed to be on the same page.
“If the Fates kept their bargain, she is going to want to know how she is healed. We are going to tell her that I gave up immortality for her. I’ll tell her Bruce offered…”
Bruce held up a hand. “No, Diana, don’t.”
Diana looked a little shocked. “You offered to die for her. She deserves to know.”
Bruce shook his head. “If she ever forgives me for leaving, I don’t want it to be because she feels like she owes me anything. I left you both and I will deal with the fallout. I’ll grovel if I have to and hope one day she wants me in her life. But it won’t be like that. Do we agree?”
Dig raised his hands. “I’m down with whatever you guys want to tell her.”
Diana made no such promise, staying quiet on the subject, not wanting to argue. “There is one thing she cannot know, and you both know what that is.”
Bruce shook his head. “You tied your life to hers, Diana. If she dies, you die. That’s something she should know. She should know not to take unnecessary chances…”
“No!” She exclaimed. “That is exactly why I don’t want her to know. Bruce, her health has held her back her entire life. I won’t let fear for mine hold her back.
“I want her to live, not continue breathing while being afraid of dying because of me. I’m not afraid of death so there is no reason for her to ever find out. Promise me.”
Neither men looked happy but could see her point, so they acquiesced.
“Doubles the pressure on me.” Dig mumbled with a sigh. “When you tell her she is healthy, she is going to want to do a lot of dangerous things. Do you think we could hold off telling her for a while, just so I can have a couple months peace before my job gets even harder?”
Diana and Bruce chuckled.
While Kara would definitely want to travel, she was acutely aware that, as her personal bodyguard, Dig was at constant risk because of her status. She had respect for the lives of all her bodyguards and knew her decisions could lead them into unnecessary danger, something she would never do.
Diana let out a breath and closed her eyes.
“Let’s go downstairs.” She finally said, nervously.
“You two are covered in blood. Shouldn’t you shower?” Dig suggested.
Diana shook her head. “I need to see her… to know she is alright. If she is, I can shower in the basement bathroom. Bruce can shower after me or upstairs if he wants.”
Bruce agreed. “Yeah, let’s go check on her. If she is okay, I’m coming upstairs, showering and leaving.”
Diana looked at him sharply. “You aren’t staying? What if she isn’t up?”
Bruce shrugged. “I’m going to respect her wishes, Diana. I didn’t do that in Star City, and it made things worse. Just tell her I… tell her I was here, and I love her.”
The three made their way to the elevator, no one speaking. Upstairs they could pretend that everything was okay. What would happen if they arrived downstairs and nothing had changed, or worse, Kara was close to death?
What if she had died?
When the elevator opened, the occupants in the isolation room stopped what they were doing and looked at the arrivals with open mouths.
It wasn’t hard to imagine why.
Dig looked intimidating, dressed in the armored gear Kara had provide for him, covered in weapons.
Bruce wore a black body suit, no mask or cape, a katana sheathed at his waist. Dried blood covered his face which was a bit swollen but didn’t appear to be too damaged underneath the blood.
Diana looked the worst. She was covered in blood, even the blue and gold parts of her armor were soaked in dried, black blood. Her hair was slicked back and stiff, shiny as if she had been sweating only it wasn’t sweat that caused her hair to look wet.
“My God.” Alfred whispered, moving quickly towards the three.
“How is she?” Diana asked.
Steve walked up to Diana, leaving only Eliza in the room. Eliza was putting away blood bags and Diana feared for a moment that she was putting away equipment because Kara was dead. Logically she knew that if Kara was dead, she would be too but that was assuming the mythical beings kept their word.
“Are you okay?” Steve asked her, touching her cheek.
“Steve, how is she?”
The man smiled and took her hand, pulling her to the room. She stood outside the clear wall and saw Kara lying peacefully in bed, asleep but without a tube in her throat.
“A little while ago, her body seized, and this bright light surrounded her out of nowhere. She suddenly opened her eyes, and they were glowing, absolutely white, no color at all, it was hard to look at her it was so bright.
We couldn’t move, were afraid to even approach her… Eliza just kept watching the monitors. Kara stayed like that for a couple of minutes when the light faded out, and her eyes closed.
She immediately began getting better. The fluid stopped building up in her lungs and she was breathing on her own. Eliza had to hurry to remove the chest tube and ventilator. The virus was just… gone. Her organs began repairing themselves…”
“Organs?” Diana whispered, horrified.
Steve nodded. “It was touchy for a while. Fluid built up in her chest and her heart stopped. Eliza got her back but then the virus started working on her internal organs. They were beginning to shut down when her vitals improved. Everything improved. She hasn’t woken up yet but whatever you did, it worked.”
Diana walked around Steve and into the room, sitting in a chair by the bed. She took Kara’s hand in her own.
“Bunny? Can you hear me? It’s your big sister.”
“She might not wake for a while, Diana.” Eliza told her. “She isn’t in a coma, but her body just went through an ordeal. She is getting better. In fact, she is better than she was.
“Diana, I don’t understand. What happened? Kara’s body is making antibodies. She is making her own T cells, her white blood cell count is normal. She isn’t only cured… it looks like she has an immune system.”
Diana nodded, immensely relieved at her words, her eyes never leaving her sister’s peace-filled face. “That was part of the bargain. We did it, Eliza. We saved the Fates and as part of the bargain, they were not only to heal her from the poisoning but give her a working immune system.”
Diana felt warm tears rolling down her face as she kissed the hand she held and broke out into a huge smile, laying her head down on the side of the bed and crying tears of joy.
Everything she had experienced over the last couple days was catching up to her… overwhelming her. The stress, the fear, the monsters, the battles and the blood, the uncertainty. If Kara continued to improve, if she was really healed, cured, given the immune system she should have had at birth, then it was all worth it.
After a few minutes, her tears subsided, and she felt Steve’s hand on her shoulder. “Go shower. She is going to scream if she wakes up and sees you looking like the final girl from a slasher movie. I’ll be with her.”
Diana nodded, took a deep breath and stood up, walking past the group as she headed towards the bathroom.
Steve followed her out and shook Dig’s hand, clapping the man on the shoulder appreciatively.
Then he turned to Bruce and offered his hand, an offer Bruce immediately returned. “Bruce, I don’t know why you are doing what you are doing in Gotham… at least not the way you are doing it. I don’t know if you will bring more pain to Diana and Kara, but it is obvious to me now that you do love them. You look like you just fought the devil by Diana and Dig’s side to save Kara’s life. I’m glad she had you.”
Bruce nodded and backed away. “I should go. Ask Diana to text or call and let me know when Kara wakes.”
“You should stay.” Alfred told him immediately, following him to the elevator away from the other two men.
Bruce shook his head. “If she ever asks to see me, I will be here immediately. Not before. I’m going to respect her wishes, Alfred.
“I abandoned her when I should have been a brother to her. I should have been supportive, but I was so caught up in my own pain, my own mission, I scared her, then I left her. I wasn’t there for her for most of her life… even before I left. If she ever comes to me, it will be on her terms.
“I will talk to you later. I won’t be going out for a few nights so get some rest.”
Two hours later, Dig and Diana sat in Kara’s bedroom on either side of her bed watching her sleep. Deciding she was healthy enough due to a literal miracle and getting Eliza’s approval, Dig had picked her up in his arms and carried her to her own bed.
Steve was sitting in the window seat across the room, dozing after a long, hard couple of days. Alfred had left to prepare dinner and Eliza had stepped out to run more tests on Kara’s blood, leaving the two alone.
“Dig, I don’t know where to begin.” Diana started, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb her sister.
“You don’t have to say anything, Diana. You have all welcomed me into your family. I love this girl. I wasn’t going to stay out of it. ” Dig replied, obvious emotion in his tone. “Fighting beside you and your brother is probably the thing I will be most proud of in my entire life. I’m just happy we succeeded. I may have nightmares about orc-looking monsters and giant horned snakes, centaurs and gryphon guts but it was worth it… we won. She is recovering and going to be well now. That’s all that matters.”
“Thank you.” Diana told him, smiling appreciatively.
“I do want that raise though.” He told her mischievously.
Diana chuckled, enjoying his cheekiness. “You’re part of the family, Dig… Waynes are billionaires. You never have to worry about money.”
Dig smiled, looking at his charge lying peacefully in her bed. “You think if I got a water gun, a few little squirts would wake her up?”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t,” a sleepy voice responded. Kara rolled on to her back, rubbing her eyes.
Steve was up and moving towards the bed from the window while Diana and Dig stood.
Seeing the relief on the faces of the three surrounding her bed, she said, “I’m guessing a lot happened while I was out. Why is my throat so sore? Why do I have a bandage on my side and why does my body feel like it has been thrown against a wall?”
Looking around, she realized she was in her bedroom. “And why am I not in the isolation chamber? Not that I’m complaining.”
Dig leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Your sister can catch you up, kid. I’m gonna let Alfred and Eliza know you are up.”
Dig walked out leaving the two sisters alone with Steve. Steve kissed her forehead as well. “I’ll give you two a few minutes alone then everyone is going to want to see her.”
“How are you feeling?” Diana asked her little sister once Steve left the room.
“Sore and itchy.” Kara told her, struggling to move.
“Let me help you.” Diana reached out, sliding an arm under Kara’s upper torso and gently maneuvering her to a sitting position, then settling carefully on the bed beside her.
She poured a cup of cool water from the pitcher on the side table and handed it to Kara. “Here, take a few sips of this. You’ve had a lot of drugs in your system so you probably shouldn’t eat just yet.”
Kara took the cup and slowly took a few swallows while Diana answered her questions. “You were out for a couple days. You had to be intubated and a chest tube was placed in you to drain fluid buildup. You have a few stitches at that spot so be careful not to move much and definitely don’t twist. I think Eliza put it near the site of the last one.”
“Now, what do you remember?” Diana asked, taking the cup back.
Kara closed her eyes and for a moment, Diana was concerned she had fallen asleep again.
“I remember you telling me someone from your past had poisoned me. You were in your armor. Bruce was there. I asked you not to leave me, but you said you had to. You said you would make it better. That’s it. I don’t remember anything until waking up just now.” Kara said and opened her eyes. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
Diana nodded. “I’ll tell you everything once you have had a chance to really wake up and everyone has had a chance to check on you.”
Kara stilled for a moment. “Is Bruce here?”
“He was.” Diana answered. “He said if you wanted to see him for me to call. I’m about to text him that you are awake… so, do you want to see him?”
Kara said nothing and appeared confused. Diana recognized her expression as the one she wore when she was not only confused but in deep thought about the answer.
Finally, Kara relaxed and said nothing, so Diana decided not to push it.
The room was soon crowded with an excited Alfred and Eliza, along with Dig and Steve. Steve turned on Kara’s favorite music and the group stayed together and talked for a while.
Alfred updated Diana about the incident with Babs and Steve told Kara about the conversation with Tommy.
Neither woman was happy with those situations but compared to what they had all faced the last few days, these problems seemed inconsequential.
Kara was just relieved to be alive and was ready to talk to Diana. She wanted to know what happened. She had been sick enough to need a chest tube and ventilator but now was doing well enough to wake up in her own bed and be surrounded by people not wearing containment suits.
She wasn’t going to complain though. She knew Diana had done something and that Bruce and Dig were involved as well.
The group dispersed, deciding Kara had enough excitement and needed rest.
Before Diana could stand, Kara grabbed her wrist.
“I’m just going to change, Bunny. I’m sleeping with you tonight. I want to be available if you need me.” Diana assured her, not wanting to admit she just couldn’t leave Kara for her own peace of mind right now.
“I want to know what happened.” Kara said stubbornly.
Diana smiled fondly at her. “You are… you have an immune system, Kara. A natural one, a system you should have been born with. That’s all you need to know right now. Rest and I will tell you everything in the morning. It’s late.”
“It can’t be that late.” Kara replied, pouting slightly. “What time is it?”
“One in the morning.” Diana replied. ‘You still have so much medication in your system that I don’t want you taking a sedative tonight. Do you think you can sleep without it? If your mind is going to keep you awake, I can ask Eliza if it’s okay.”
“You promise to tell me everything in the morning?” Kara wasn’t willing to let Diana avoid telling her what she wanted to know, no matter how exhausted she was.
“I promise, Bunny.” Diana nodded.
“Then get ready for bed and hold me. I’m tired. I’m very tired.” Kara told her, closing her eyes.
Diana did so but, despite being exhausted, she could not fall asleep. She lay on her side, watching every breath her sister took. With each one, Diana relaxed more and more.
While Kara may have wanted answers, her body needed rest to recover, and she slept until ten a.m.
Once she was up, Alfred brought some dry toast for her to eat and a cup of tea. He then left, explaining that Dig would be informing him, Steve, and Eliza of what happened and what they could expect from Kara.
The sisters were alone, and Kara seemed much more awake and rested than the night before.
“I’m listening.” Kara told Diana as she sipped on her tea.
“It began in my office when this bitch showed up out of thin air.” Diana started her narrative.
A couple of hours later the story was over. Kara had stopped her at times asking for clarification or more detail but didn’t interfere much with Diana’s story telling.
Once she got to the end, Kara’s questions would not be held back. “You gave up your immortality for me? You could have lived forever, Diana!”
“That isn’t as great a gift as it sounds, Kara.” Diana replied, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t age, watching everyone around me growing old, dying. I would be alone. I don’t want that.”
“I want to see Mom and Dad again someday and I don’t want to wait thousands of years. I want to be in eternity with my family… you, Steve, Bruce, Alfred… everyone I love. I am grateful I had my immortality to bargain with. If not, I would have given up my life for yours… if I had the chance.” Diana rolled her eyes.
Kara raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Diana sighed and momentarily debated telling her. Bruce didn’t want Kara to know, but Diana hoped telling her would help bridge the gap between them a little. After the events of the past few days, Diana was willing to give Bruce a chance and she wanted him to have the chance to fix things with their little sister.
“When the Fates said one life must be exchanged for another, Bruce asked them to take his life for yours before I could say anything.” Diana told her, watching Kara closely to see how she would take the news.
“He was going to die for me?” Kara asked quietly. “After going through what you all went through… you’ve taken care of me my whole life… I don’t doubt your love for me. But Bruce… I don’t know what to do with that, Diana.”
Diana remained quiet, seeing Kara wasn’t focused on her as she worked through the information.
After what seemed like hours, the blonde eventually asked, “Do you think he felt guilty about leaving us?”
Diana shrugged, giving Kara her honest opinions and thoughts. “I think he loves you and was willing to give his life for you. I don’t believe guilt had anything to do with his offer to the Fates.
“I don’t agree with what he has done and is still doing… I will never agree. But I know after I killed Cronus, I heard his voice telling others to move away from me. When I felt his arms wrap around me, I opened my eyes and I saw my brother. That stupid mask had been torn off and the cape was gone.
“He was just Bruce… my Bruce. The brother I had grown up with who always had my back. The one who talked me down when my temper got the best of me outside the manor. My Bruce who listened to me cry at night when I was worried, or sad or stressed out. My Bruce who had so much patience working with me to control my strength as I got older. My Bruce was there with me.
“Even after six years of being away, of trying to kill that part of himself, my brother was still there, holding me, fighting for both of us. He’s not gone, Kara. Not yet.”
Kara wiped her eyes. “I suspected when you became so angry over these bat sightings and antics it was him. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. I didn’t… why Diana? Why can’t he leave the alley?”
Diana raised an eyebrow, not understanding her question. “What are you talking about? I’ve never heard you say that. Leave the alley?”
Kara was confused for a moment. She knew she had heard that before, she just couldn’t place where.
Shaking her head, she asked Diana the next question. “So… what are you going to do about Bruce and this bat thing?”
“Don’t you worry. Let me handle it.” Diana replied, tapping her on her nose. “You are going to stay in for a week while those stiches heal, and Eliza runs a couple hundred blood tests. I think by the end of the week we will have definite confirmation as to the status of your health. You will need to be checked weekly for a while but not the gene therapy treatments.
“You are going to have a very different life, Kara.”
“I wish you could go back and tell them the deal included better eyesight.” The blonde joked, then became serious. “Seriously, Diana, do you really think I’m healed?”
“I do.” Diana replied confidently.
Kara stayed quiet for a moment.
“You gave up infinite lifetimes… to spend one with me. That means you will age, right? Do you still have your powers? Do you weaken as you age? Are you susceptible to illness? Are your healing abilities gone?” She asked all in one go, obviously working through something in her head.
Diana shook her head. “My powers and abilities are still there, same as before.”
“Then how can you die one day? Do you see what I am getting at? The fine print? They told you that you would live one lifetime. What does that mean? How is it measured?”
Kara paused for a moment, then added, “How do we know they won’t kill you when they think you have had enough time?”
Diana cringed inside because she knew exactly how much time she had. Her life was synchronized with Kara’s. She would age but no matter how old or young she was, she would die when Kara’s heart stopped beating… and she didn’t want Kara to know. She wanted her sister to live without fear.
“Bunny, I killed Cronus with a lightning bolt. No one is going to try and kill me or you. Maybe my abilities will fade with time. We can test them occasionally to see. Maybe the day after each birthday you can check and see if I am missing a step.” Diana suggested, hoping Kara wouldn’t question her further.
“You really channeled lightning from the sky and through your body? I wish I’d seen that.” Kara grinned, bouncing on her bed like she did when she was little. “You know we are going to have to run tests. It sounds so unbelievably cool. We need to find out if it was you, or the gauntlets that allowed you to direct the bolt. The gauntlets have always been cool, but they have only given out concussive blasts. We need to test them with electricity and determine if they are essential to you controlling the power or whether you can control it on your own, with your arms bare.”
Diana nodded, chuckling at her enthusiasm. “Bunny, could we take a while to relax before you start running tests on me like your own personal superpowered lab rat?”
Outright laughing at the pout that now adorned her sister’s face, Diana finally said, “I need to go take care of some things at the office. Steve is going to hang out with you, so stay in bed, surf the internet and plan the first trip you want to take overseas. We haven’t had a vacation in a long time. I’m sure you need to call Tommy too, right?”
Kara nodded. “Yeah… what am I going to tell him?”
“That you were sick and now you are better. It passed quickly and you were lucky.” Diana suggested.
“He is going to want more.”
Diana considered her point. “You told him, when you two first spoke of being a couple, that our family had secrets you may never be able to tell him. Tell him this was one secret that he can’t know. Insinuate that it was a secret experimental treatment if you want but admit to nothing. Leave it at that.”
Kara sighed. “I’m not great at lying.”
“Unfortunately, it gets easier over time.” Diana smiled fondly at her. “I have never lied to you, Bunny, but you know I have kept things from you for your own protection. There were simply things you didn’t need to worry about. You always trusted me to take care of them. There is a difference between lying to someone to deceive them and not telling them something because there is no point in worrying them.
“In this case, if you think seeing Tommy is something you wish to do for the near future, you are going to have to protect him and our secrets.
“Bruce and I were careless. Dig saw us torturing a woman on the back lawn and became privy to our secrets. Less than thirty minutes later, he was on an enchanted island fighting mythological monsters and then walking into hell with us.
“I don’t think Tommy is as equipped to handle our secrets as Dig is, do you? Telling lies… maybe avoiding truths is a better way to say it… it’s something you will have to get used to regarding him or any relationship you have in the future. If one day, a day I hope will come, you decided marriage is something you want, then secrets will have to be shared. Not now though.”
Kara understood and knew Diana was right. Dig had learned their secrets and was thrown headfirst into a life threatening, mind-bending situation.
She hadn’t truly thanked him yet. He wasn’t just her bodyguard any longer. Now he was like Diana in a way. He was her champion.
Just like Bruce.
She still wasn’t sure what to do about Bruce. She had a myriad of emotions concerning her brother to sort through. Perhaps Diana was right. She needed to rest and think about the future.
She also needed to call Tommy and reassure him she was okay.
“What about Babs?” Kara asked.
Diana smirked. “I’ll handle Babs. Don’t worry about her.”
“She was just worried, Diana.” Kara replied, concern in her tone.
“Relax. I know she worries. This was a strange time for all of us. I’ll handle it.” Diana pulled her sister close and hugged her. “Rest, sweetie. I will be back.”
So it was, Diana found herself in her office, waiting on Barbara Gordon to arrive. Within a few minutes, Barbara was knocking on her door and walking in without being summoned.
The red head stood in front of Diana’s desk, a stubborn look on her face and her arms crossed. Diana kept a straight face, not letting her amusement show.
While most of Wayne Enterprises’ employees adhered to a casual dress code in the Tower, Babs had always taken it to the extreme as evidence by her torn blue jeans, black studded boots and AC/DC t-shirt that ended just above her belly button.
Rather than remarking on it, Diana waved to a seat in front of her desk and Barbara sat.
“So, I understand you broke into Athena and saw Kara ill. I assume you got my text telling you she was fine now. I appreciate you not breaking into my security system to confirm that as well.”
“I didn’t break in. I knocked. You weren’t there to answer the door, so I let myself in.” Barbara replied, a somewhat challenging tone in her voice. “I saw Kara on death’s door, and you were nowhere around. Forgive me for being concerned.”
Diana nodded, leaning back in her chair. “I have placed much trust in you. Some people laughed and some became very angry when I hired an eighteen-year-old high school graduate with no experience to run my entire cyber division. Several employees quit, employees who had years of service here. I knew this would happen and did not take pleasure in angering or losing them, but I hired you regardless and put you in charge. Do you know why?”
“Because I’m the best and you always want the best.” Barbara said confidently.
“Exactly.” Diana replied. “I also had an advantage of knowing you intimately. I knew you could handle the responsibility and had the ability to oversee the division.
“You are also a true friend to my sister, something I wondered if she would ever have early in her life. You and Alex care for her, are loyal to her. That is why I am not furious at you for breaking into my home system. I know, without any doubt whatsoever, you did it out of love for Kara.”
“That said, if it ever happens again, I will throw you off the roof of this tower.” Diana finished, her voice calm and a smile on her face.
Barbara tried to swallow, her throat suddenly dry. Instead of answering, she simply nodded.
“I am glad we got that out of the way. Now, I am sure you have questions. You want to know why Alfred said Kara was poisoned, why law enforcement has not been notified of an attempt on her life and how after seeing her so ill, you find it odd that she is fine now. Would I be right in guessing you want those answers?” Diana asked.
Barbara nodded, her mouth still dry.
Diana took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. “Have you ever noticed anything unusual about me, Barbara?”
Babs could have pointed out a number of unusual things she had noted about Diana Wayne while she was growing up, especially with Alex fangirling over her for most of their youth.
“We all have our, quirks, right?” She opted for a safe answer.
Diana smirked. “You know I am not normal. You can’t figure out what it is that makes me different. You probably don’t like that I control Kara’s life including setting bedtimes for my twenty-one-year-old sister. You find it strange that she listens to me without much of an argument. You might find it unnatural that everyone listens to me. I can give orders to five star generals, and they barely put up resistance. My presence can comfort or intimidate people as I wish it.”
“You don’t intimidate… okay you can be a little intimidating.” Barbara admitted.
Diana stood and walked around the desk, standing behind Barbara. She put her hands on the younger woman’s shoulders and barely held in a laugh when Babs stiffened. “The Wayne family has secrets. These secrets are not just kept for our protection but for the protection of others. You are the one person on Earth that can discover those secrets. You see Barbara, I can have the greatest security system in the world, but I can’t keep out the one who built it. That means I must trust you. I am going to trust you to not investigate these secrets.
“I know I can trust you. Right, Barbara?”
“I only did it because I was worried…”
“Shhh. I know… it’s okay. I just want to make sure we are on the same page. I’ve watched you grow up. You are like family to me. But the secrets we keep are best left undiscovered. Knowing them could put you in danger from others who may use you to get to us. I need you to promise me you won’t ask questions that don’t really matter. All you need to know is Kara is fine, she is safe and healthy and will be much healthier in the future. Wouldn’t you agree that is all you need to know?”
Babs nodded quickly. “I got it. I’m… I won’t… I’m just glad… she is one of the few real friends I have anymore… I’m sorry. You can trust me, Diana. I won’t ask questions.”
“Thank you, Barbara.” Diana said, giving her shoulders a squeeze before she returned to her desk. “Kara is going to be home resting this week and planning a trip overseas for us to take soon.”
“Overseas?” Barbara almost squeaked in surprise. “How can she… don’t ask questions.”
Diana smiled brightly. “See? You are doing great already. Why don’t you schedule some time to come with us. A girls trip sounds fun. Get her on video chat or whatever VR program you girls are using and plan us a wonderful trip.
“Just make sure it’s nothing in the Greek Isles. I’ve had enough of Greece to last me for a while. Come to think of it stay away from all places that worshipped ancient deities… Rome, Egypt, you get the idea. Best to not take chances.”
“Yes, Diana.” Barbara stood up and began to walk outside before Diana stopped her once more.
“Wearing a black AC/DC shirt with torn jeans is cliché. Next time try an indie band. I’m a big fan of the Artic Monkeys or perhaps the Black Keys. Wayne Enterprises is about innovation so let’s not do what everyone else is doing, alright?”
Barbara nodded and practically ran out, not bothering to say goodbye to an amused Cathy Perkins who recognized that look on many a scolded employee who had left Diana’s office.
At Wayne Manor, a couple of hours later, Kara was talking to Babs about possible vacation destinations over the computer when Alfred informed her Tommy was here. She hadn’t wanted to disturb his work day but asked him to come by that night after he got off. She supposed he couldn’t wait, and the thought made her warm inside.
Shortly after Alfred walked out, Tommy practically ran in.
Kara laughed when she saw him. “Did you forget to take off your apron?”
Tommy looked at himself and, for the first time, realized he had forgotten to take off his green Carmen’s apron. “When I got your text, I couldn’t wait. Are you okay? They said you were sick, and I couldn’t talk to you. Steve said… I didn’t want to butt in, but it had been a couple days. What happened?”
Kara patted the bed and Tommy sat. He saw her wince when she sat up a little straighter. “Are you okay?”
“Stitches from the chest tube.” She replied simply.
“Oh my god.” He said, paling. “You were that sick? Steve said it was a normal cold but when I pressed he got pretty angry. I didn’t think he was telling me the truth but… what happened? I couldn’t even get him to give Diana the phone. I know we haven’t been together long…”
Kara placed a finger to his mouth. He stopped rambling and she leaned forward and kissed him, silencing him immediately. Leaning back, she saw his concern, but knowing she couldn’t tell him anything, she decided to follow Diana’s suggestion.
“Do you remember when we started dating? I told you there would be things I couldn’t tell you, things I may never be able to tell you? This is one of those things. All you need to know is I’ve had a health breakthrough and Diana couldn’t talk to you because she needed to procure it for me.” Kara explained, giving him the only answer she could. She wasn’t even lying.
Tommy didn’t look happy at her explanation. “So what can you tell me?”
“Not much, only that I should be at much less risk of getting sick.”
“You mean you could go out more? In public or on trips?” He asked, sounding hopeful.
Kara nodded happily.
He let out a long breath and smiled. “I’m just glad you are okay. Since I have taken the rest of the day off, would it be okay if I hung out in here with you? Want to watch some musicals?”
Kara kissed his cheek. “It’s like you read my mind. But first, take off the apron. The smell is making me hungry.”
Former Falconè Estate
Late that night, Diana knocked on Bruce’s door.
He opened it, surprised to see her there. “Diana?”
“We need to talk, and Tommy has fallen asleep next to Kara while they were watching movies. I didn’t want to have this conversation in my office. May I come in?” She asked.
“Of course.” Bruce stepped aside. “I haven’t done much with the place.”
Diana looked around the large, mostly empty spaces. She made her way to a couch near an unlit fireplace and had a seat. Bruce poured them both a drink and sat on the other end.
“So, what would you like to talk about?” he asked, already suspecting.
“Batman.”
“I thought that might come up.”
Diana took a long drink, emptying the glass. She then stood and went to the bar, bringing back the whole bottle.
“It’s going to be one of those discussions I see.” Bruce said quietly.
“Am I right to assume you won’t stop?” She finally asked.
Bruce nodded carefully.
“Are you aware that the last few busts you made, the men were let go because of a lack of evidence and warrants are out for a man dressed like a bat for assault and unlawful restraint?”
Bruce snorted, not surprised.
“This is what happened in high school, Bruce.” Diana reminded him.
“I’m aware. I have a plan. Those weren’t as much about busts as spreading fear.”
Diana took a long drink, draining half the bottle. “Why can’t you be a cop, or go back to school and be an FBI agent? I can get you anywhere you want to be. Why this?”
It was a question he had asked himself over the years. Why hadn’t he become a cop?
In his mind, the answer was simple. “I can do things, go places the cops can’t go. Criminals can escape law enforcement, they can hide from cops, but they can’t hide from me. You know my skill set or at least you have guessed. I can give you details if you ever want to hear where I have been for the last six years.
“You have a great police department, Diana. You really do. Things are much better, but you know there are things out there that the police will never find out about. Organizations that even the best law enforcement can’t pin down, activities even the best won’t uncover. The sex trafficking ring was one example.
“I know how these people operate, I know what shadows they crawl in. I know how to find and stop them.”
Diana finished the bottle and stood up. “What if you could do it in a way that actually put these people behind bars? What if you worked with a cop instead of outside of them?”
“What are you talking about? If it was ever discovered by anyone that I worked with police on an arrest, the case would be thrown out.” Bruce pointed out.
Diana agreed. “That’s why you don’t work with the police. You work with one man who knows how to get convictions, one man who can tell you what he needs. Don’t make this mission of yours be about letting out your rage or beating criminals until you feel they have been punished enough. Make it about finding justice.
“I have an idea. One that can use your skills and get results, give what you are doing a true purpose. It won’t be perfect, but it would be better than what you are doing now.
“So will you trust me? Will you try it my way? If you are going to be Batman, start it off right.”
Bruce finished his drink and stood up. “I’m listening.”
“Did you get a new cape and mask?”
Bruce nodded. “I had some material laying around.”
“Then suit up and come with me, Batman. We are going to speak to Commissioner Gordon. You can’t get convictions and he can’t go into the places you can or find the information you can. You two need each other so I’m going to make it happen.”
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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