Main | Fanfic | Whole New World Index | New Stories When Ripples Catch Up To You(series 3 in the "A Whole New World" series)FEEDBACK - Oh Yes Please -You can email us at docwho2100@gmail.com authors: docwho2100 and ellie no name Authors' notes: Character thoughts appear between ~ ~ symbols This is the third story in the series – the other chapters can be found at the story web site http://home.comcast.net/~jstratton1/storywebsite/wholenewworld/index.htm The reference to Dissection Killings in this story is from the first story in this series home.comcast.net/~jstratton1/storywebsite/wholenewworld/index.htm - read Series I - Colonization for background Consensual relationship depicted between adult women in this story. If you have a problem with that or are under 18 please do not read.
Clock Tower ------------------------------------ She'd been awake since before the first light had leaked in signaling the advancing dawn. She been content to just hold and feel Helena's steady breathing, her hand absently stroking through hair or the occasional patch of skin. Barbara had been using the time to readjust and review the events from the last few days. She'd been playing everything over and over trying to determine where things had failed. What could have been done better? What needed to be done to make sure this never happened again? It had been so close, so close to… losing. She turned her head some then managing to bury her face in the hair she had been stroking earlier. "Mmm.." Helena sighed in her sleep, twisting her head as her fingers flexed. Overwhelmed by her thoughts, Barbara tightened her grip on the brunette even as she rubbed her face through the dark hair picking up the meta's scent as well as drinking in the feel of the hair pulling across her face. For a moment Helena froze, holding her breath, then she flinched. As her hands tightened into fists she whimpered, wanting to move but feeling unable to. Her loving caress across Helena's scalp ended as she reacted to the sounds coming from Helena. "Ssssh. You're alright. You're not alone." She whispered even as she twisted her body some so she could ghost a few light kisses across the meta's forehead, a hand moving to one of the clenched fists, rubbing over the brunette's knuckles trying to calm her. Jerking awake, Helena instantly pushed herself up just enough to take in her surroundings, her eyes jumping for a few moments before she slowly started to lie back down, trying to calm herself. Barely having moved out of the way as the woman pulled away from her, she reached a hand up resting it on Hel's shoulder. "Helena? You're just in the clock tower in our, um my bed." Swallowing as she had accidentally voiced what she had come to think as their relationship deepened. She focused back on the young woman, her eyes trying to find an indication of Helena's state. "Sorry," Helena rasped, settling back down against Barbara, "Guess I'm still not quite myself yet." "That's to be expected Helena. You've..." She paused and turned so she could watch the brunette. "You've been through a lot." She knew those words could not describe what had happened. But for once she did not feel like pulling out her endless vocabulary, her mind more on Helena's condition. Helena just nodded, slipping her arm around to Barbara's side. She tried closing her eyes again, but it only brought everything back. When they snapped back open she tried to relax the now tense muscles she felt in her back and arms. Barbara released a large, loud breath. "Hot bath." She said after a moment. "Room for me?" Helena asked, her voice still rough around the edges. "I actually was going for the idea you needed one to try and relax. Although if you need the company." Barbara tried to smirk but didn't quite manage as she also felt a slight warmth spreading across her cheeks. "I thought I'd figure something out for breakfast, let you have the royal treatment this morning." "That means I have to get up, right?" Helena asked, suddenly wishing she'd paid more attention to the calming and focusing techniques Barbara had tried to teach her in the past. "Well, breakfast I could bring to you, but the whole concept of a bath would be hard to recreate here." She smiled a bit even as she leaned over and placed kisses first on Hel's forehead then moved down along the curve of the cheek before pulling back. "But we can do whatever you want sweetie. Your choice, I am at your beck and call for the day." "Bath then," Helena said, "but followed by a shower, I still feel filthy," she added, despite having cleaned up the night before. Barbara stilled all motion trying to keep herself from tensing too much. "Filthy... Hel, if you just want to grab a shower." She trailed off not quite sure what she could do for Helena; although she understood perfectly what she might be going through. It had taken many long nights and showers and other activities to be able not to think about a certain blonde. Helena half-shrugged, "I suppose some intense water pressure would be just as good, if not better. What do I get for breakfast?" Barbara drew her face up in a frown. She was quiet a moment just watching Helena wishing for an instant she had a little of Dinah's powers. She finally added, "What ever I can cook without really cooking." "Or you could call Alfred. I'm not sure I'm up to fighting fires again," Helena said, reluctantly rolling onto her back, away from the redhead. "Hey," Barbara playfully swatted at Helena. "I have improved since that one, small," she emphasized the word small, "incident. But I can call him. If you want to head into the bathroom and start your shower, after I call him I can come in and take care of your bandages and whatever else you need." Helena nodded as she pushed herself up. "Can you grab me something to drink?" she asked, motioning toward her throat once she was on her feet. "That I can easily manage." She pulled herself up and transferred herself to her chair. Barbara moved then so she could grasp one of Helena's hands. Trying not to jump and the unexpected contact, Helena turned to look at Barbara. It was small, a flicker, a slight tension in the upper arm. A flash so brief that anyone else would have missed it or dismissed it. But Barbara felt the small flinch, the misstep in the normally unflappable Helena. Working not to let her concern come through, Barbara renewed her grip and tightened her hold pulling on the brunette hoping she'd turn to fully face Barbara. Turning, Helena spoke up, "Barbara?" Looking up, Barbara met the brunette's gaze. So many possible answers popped up in her head and she rejected each one as trite, or hackneyed or just not able to capture the true point. She wondered if that was truly possible but left that as the silence had deepened. She tried to determine if she should let it go or not.... "Are you sure there's nothing else right now I can do for you?" "Not yet, sorry," Helena said, looking down to her feet. "No, I guess not yet." She knew she was frowning and she worked to erase that look. She let Hel's hand go after giving it another squeeze. "I will check on you in a few minutes. Or do you want me to wait until you are completely finished?" She added the last suddenly feeling awkward for some reason. A feeling she'd felt when first telling Helena how much she wanted her, a feeling she'd been trying to let go as their relationship was developing. "I... whenever," Helena said. After a brief pause she started to move again, stretching as she walked, despite the grimace it caused her. Barbara stayed beside the bed watching Helena walk out without looking back at the redhead. As the brunette left the room, Barbara stayed still. After Helena had exited, she hit the arm of her chair hard with her fist before moving out of the bedroom as well. When she reached the bathroom, Helena first went to the shower to turn on the water, she wanted it hot this morning. As she waited the brunette caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Frowning, she moved toward it. She'd been feeling the stiffness in her muscles since the night before, but hadn't realized just how swollen the left side of her face was. Turning away she focused on the shower again and carefully removed her clothes. ---------------------------- Alfred had understood completely when Barbara called him. He'd actually been planning on coming by later to fix a number of items he'd told Barbara. With his promise to have waffles and other assorted fare on the table within the hour, Barbara had hung up marveling as always at her treasured friend's ability to bring normality to the tower. That task completed. Barbara started coffee and then moved to grab some juice, water and milk not sure what Helena might want to drink. She placed the items on a tray and balanced it carefully on her lap as she made her way to the bathroom. She paused outside the door hearing the shower. She was unsure because of the meta's earlier actions if she should go in. "Just do it and be there for her regardless," she chided herself and with that knocked loudly on the door before opening it. "Helena?" She called still in the doorway making her entrance slow. "It's open," Helena called back. She was already in the shower. The steam obscured Barbara's view to a silhouette, though so far the brunette had yet to do more than just stand under the water, letting it beat against her back. "Whew, you have the makings of a nice sauna in here." Barbara began placing the various drinks on a counter. "I wasn't sure what you wanted to drink." "Anything," Helena said, Barbara's presence enough to push her into at least going through the motions of a shower, not just lingering in the heat, "I just need something, my throat's still dry." "It is probably a residual effect of the drug. Cottonmouth is a normal side effect." Barbara replied automatically as she fidgeted with the drinks. "I brought water, juice, milk. Oh I could bring tea. And I am making coffee." "And Alfred?" Helena asked, closing her eyes as she worked the shampoo into her hair. "Waffles and more will be ready before your stomach can rumble too much." Barbara puckered her lips thinking Hel's voice sounded flat, too flat and toneless. Maybe it was just the acoustics of the bathroom. Maybe it made her voice sound strained and rigid also. "Are..." Helena began to ask a question, but just let it fall flat, opting instead to reach for the soap. "Are?" Barbara reviewed what she had just said. "I am not quite sure where that word would fit. Did you need something Helena?" "Nevermind, lost my train of thought," she lied, rinsing all of the soap from her skin. "Oh," Barbara tapped her finger on the counter waiting to see if Helena would say more. When she heard nothing else, she tried breaking the awkward silence. "Do you want me to wait in here for you or..." she trailed off feeling the oppressive atmosphere weighing down on her words. "Almost done," Helena said, soaking up a little more of the heat before reaching to shut off the water. "Can you grab me a towel?" Glad finally to feel productive, Barbara grabbed a towel. She wheeled over next to the stall and held out the towel. "One towel coming up," she said cheerfully, extra, sweet cheerfully as she pushed the words out. "How is it possible for you to be a night person and a morning person?" Helena asked, reaching for the towel and using it to dry herself before wrapping it around her body and stepping out. "Well, having to face down 25 very defiant faces and enlighten them in a positive way about the virtues of old fuddy-duddies who have been dead for hundreds of years has helped me cultivate the false morning cheer." Barbara backed up just enough to give the meta a little more room. "And well, being Oracle guides the night time." She'd managed not to mention Batgirl, a time and person that was lost to her forever. Helena nodded, attempting a smiled for the redhead as she moved to sit down on the edge of the bath tub. "I still feel exhausted." "Then let's go back to bed." She included herself in the activity hoping Helena would want her around. "I'll just check you out quickly and we can ask Alfred to just wrap everything for reheating later." She had a feeling the exhaustion Helena was mentioning was not associated with getting a good night's sleep, but she had few actions to offer at this point. "I'm hungry too," Helena admitted, running a hand through her still wet hair before trying to sit up better. "What do you need to check?" "Mainly those couple of deeper wounds and a few bruised areas. Your meta healing should be taking care of things actually; it just makes me feel better if I check, ok?" She had rolled over and reached forward to lay a hand on the brunette's leg. "I feel better when you check it too," Helena said, her voice softening for the moment. "Good, because that's what I want, you to feel better." She left her statement although it worked on many levels. "So if you are ready, here or want to move back to the bedroom?" "Bed is good, maybe even breakfast in bed?" Helena asked. Barbara released a small breath, letting go a little tension as Hel's reply finally sounded a little more, well, Hel-like. "I think we can arrange that. Although we may have to negotiate reciprocation." She tried to keep her reply light, hoping to draw Helena even further from her damp mood. "Thanks," Helena said, reaching to squeeze Barbara's hand. "This means I should get up, right?" Returning the squeeze, Barbara pulled ever so slightly on the brunette's hand. "It would be a necessary step unless you have developed a new meta ability that involves teleporting." She started to say something else, but clipped her words instead just tightening her grip on Hel's hand. "Do I have to get dressed?" she mused, trying to tease. Barbara had been rubbing at her forehead and stopped the motion mid stroke. After managing to contain the images that sprang to mind, images that were causing her cheeks and other places in her body to flush, she managed to reply. "Well, clothing could be optional, I am sure when Alfred serves breakfast, he will avert his eyes appropriately." "Fine," Helena sighed, not as dramatically as she'd hoped, "a tank top, the sheets can cover the rest." "It is a shame to cover such perfection." Barbara teased as she let Hel's hand go so she could trail her fingers over some of the skin Helena's action would cover. "But then you might have to share, not Alfred, but you know, others..." Helena smiled softly, pushing to her feet, slowly. Not quite sure why or where the thought... no not thought, thought was what she did in thorough and precise manner. This was not a thought. But where ever the urge came from, Barbara did not shy away from it, instead, for once, she acted. Her hand shot out and grabbed Helena's wrist. Not mindful of the injuries, rather focused only on her act and delivering the intense feeling, the redhead pulled the brunette down and to her. As the meta was pulled toward her, green eyes riveted sharp on blue ones. "No others, mine." Barbara blinked slightly surprised by the low, husky voice that issued those words. Helena didn't say anything at first, just leaning in for a kiss. When she reluctantly pulled back her eyes slowly opened, "Yes, ma'am." Barbara was silent, the silence giving her time to not only regain control of her breathing and heartbeat, but also to try and recollect her thoughts. Thoughts that had been very effectively scattered by the meta's kiss. She looked down then at her hand encircling the wrist. She let her hand slide away as she looked back to Helena. "Maybe not completely covered." "First you fix me up, then we eat, then you can concern yourself with my state of dress, or undress..." Helena said, slowly sliding away. "I can handle that list. Just as long as you are not too far away." As she spoke she reached out a hand arresting Hel's movement. "Are you sure you are ok?" Helena just shrugged, not wanting to lie. "What does that mean?" Barbara's earlier teasing mood was forgotten as she picked up once again on the subtle, yet tense shift in the brunette's demeanor. "Still getting there, I guess," Helena said before turning away. "Stop, don't." Barbara reached out trying to halt the meta and turn her back. "You keep... did I do something wrong?" Barbara's eyes swung back and forth, trying to search out a reason for Hel's behavior. "No," Helena said instantly, "I... I'm not so good with the talking, just not feeling myself yet. It's nothing." Conflicted, Barbara hesitated. She was unsure if she should push or let this and the meta go. "Practice makes perfect Hel." "Let me get healed first," Helena said, hoping that she'd be able to work back herself with one of the clock tower's punching bags. "Physically or emotionally," Barbara whispered, her eyes not letting go of Helena. "Physically. Maybe moving like myself will make me feel it too," Helena mused, trying hard to not pull away. Barbara felt a number of heartbeats go by as she was silent, her gaze fixed. She finally broke the tense silence. "Maybe. Just let me know what I can do for you. I am here and not going anywhere." ~Please don't push me away, I need you as much as I hope you need me...~ Her thoughts giving her a strength Helena's words were not. "I know," Helena nodded. Barbara's eyes swept over the brunette. She nodded once then knowing there was only so much she could do, Helena had to come part of the way as well. They had won, mostly. It was that small adverb that pushed and pulled at Barbara. She knew they both would have scars from this. But, through it all, they still had each other. So in the end, it was a victory. As to the scars, well, all superheroes have scars… right? "So, shall we start working on that list?" fini
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