The Not Quite Justice League in... The Bee's Pleas!!!

[stands_for_hope]

[continued from here]

Finishing his article, clearing everything with Keith, those things took time. That was why it took a few hours before Clark was ready to make his usual call to Lois that night. He had worried that he might not make the time window that she cleared every day to talk to him and the others, but he was proud to say that he'd left himself an even half an hour as long as everything was to schedule.

After the fifth time she didn't pick up (didn't so much as text or ping him), it became clear that things were very much off schedule.

Clark made his way back to the main floor where everyone seemed to congregate and headed straight for Tony, holding up the phone to him.

"I know we're all tired and we've certainly had a long day, but... can you find out where Lois's phone is from the number here?"

In all the madness of the day, all the fighting and the close calls and the weakness brought on by the proximity of kryptonite, he'd lost track of her heartbeat. Usually, it was simple enough to pick up over the phone once again, a steady pulse that he could find his way back to once the phonecall had ended.

He couldn't hear her. He couldn't tell where she was. And she wasn't answering her phone. She always answered her phone. He didn't want to think anything was wrong, but he wasn't naive enough to discount something like this. Not after today. Not after they'd pulled out kryptonite weapons.

Comments

[stands_for_hope]

"Battle affects us all in different ways," she said, as always level-headed. "That it makes my blood turn hot and makes yours go cool is only a difference. Not a cause for alarm or doubt."

She walked over and slid her hand along his arm.

"Will you accept companionship and affection, or do you still require space?"

She didn't sound as if she would mind either answer; she just wanted to know where he was.

[kolodnoykovki]

He reached for her and gathered her close, chin against her shoulder. "Just this time. Usually, it's... I'd be right here with you two, but I..."

Jim shook his head. "Something about this time was different."

[stands_for_hope]

She curled up happily in his arms, leaning her head gently against him.

"This was an unfortunate situation, as much because of Lois's involvement as because we all thought we had accomplished our goals, that the day was done. It was a jarring experience and a harrowing one."

She kissed his cheek softly.

"In truth, it was as much a need for solace and joy as an outlet for my hot blood that moved my hand. That there is so little I can do to help my beloved sister..."

She shrugged a little.

"It sits poorly with me."

[kolodnoykovki]

"She'll be okay now," Jim promised softly. "She'll need help for a little while. Washing her hair and getting dressed - I know Clark will help, but we're family. Everybody will help."

And it was Lois. All of them loved her. She might have been the only one of them without something superhuman, but she was theirs. She was part of their heart. Part of the family. They were all going to keep her safe.

[stands_for_hope]

Many of the sisters on Themyscira require such assistance for while their lives were restored and made long, limbs lost in battle before their time on the island could not be returned. A few re-injured themselves once they had created the Purple Ray, but many stayed as they were, happy with their bodies. One of her paramores of the past was of the latter, her leg lost from below the knee.

"If I thought she could make the journey, I would take her to my home, treat her there. She would be welcome. But I worry that the travel would make matters worse."

She smiled a little over at him.

"I look forward to having her back home, however. With all of us assisting, the burden for her should be light enough. And it is not truly home without her presence."

[kolodnoykovki]

"We've all missed her," he agreed - and then had an idea. "Why don't we get her a welcome home cake and some balloons. Have a combination homecoming and get well soon party?"

It was an idea, at least. The five of them in their apartment, where the elevator had gotten done just in time. Cake, ice cream, balloons. Lois' favourite TV shows and movies. They'd make an evening of it.

"Do you think it'd be too much?"

[stands_for_hope]

She shook her head firmly.

"I think she will be delighted," Diana insisted, "as she does not like to behave as if she enjoys such attention, but she certainly does. And love can help heal any wound in a way. To give her more seems the best of plans."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Then we'll do it - as soon as we can go home. As soon as we can move her, we'll have everything ready and waiting." He smiled, kissing her cheek. "Balloons and blankets and cushions. Cake and ice cream." Everything he'd always wished he could give Steve when Steve came home from the hospital so long ago.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

She grinned and leaned up against him.

"It will delight her as much that such an effort was made as the festivities themselves," she said with a hand running up and down his arm. "And it will raise Clark's spirits considerably, I think. While he is physically unharmed as ever, every wound upon Lois is like a wound upon him."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I know. I wish... I wish there was something else I could do," he sighed. "Give her some of my blood with the serum in it or something. Something to help her heal faster." For all he knew that wasn't how it worked. "But we'll just have to make it so she barely notices she's hurt."

[stands_for_hope]

"Lois is resilient and will know the impact her pain has upon Clark. We will have to act wisely to assist her while she acts to heal him."

Diana was already considering how she could help her sister without being too obvious.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Maybe Tony has something up his sleeve. Or knows somebody who would." He could ask people at the VA, but Lois wasn't a veteran. She couldn't get treated there.

[stands_for_hope]

"If we could manage a protective vessel, I could take her to Themyscira. The Purple Ray would have her whole and healthy within a day's time."

[kolodnoykovki]

Two ideas warred in Jim's mind and he needed to ask, "What kind of protective vessel? Like... Tony's suit, or... what?"

[stands_for_hope]

"Something that I could fly to the island without causing her harm from the window or the movement. Tony's suit would serve," she agreed.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I might be able to work something out. Either with Tony or with one of the Knight guys around here." Their AIs might be able to help. They were cars, and cars were pretty hard to kill. But they were male AIs. That made things a little awkward.

[stands_for_hope]

"My sisters receive injuries the likes of Lois's in the arena often, but she has already been hurt enough by her treatment and the travel to get her here. I will not risk harming her further. But I would not withhold the treatment from a sister such as her."

[kolodnoykovki]

"So we'll work something out," he promised, nodding. "Even if it means I buy a couple bathtubs and fasten them together." It wouldn't be pleasant, traveling in two attached bathtubs, but it'd at least work, he thought.

[stands_for_hope]

"She is as mighty a warrior as ever fought in the arena," Diana said. "She deserves the same care."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Damn straight," he agreed and kissed her cheek. "I'll make sure she gets there safe."

[stands_for_hope]

She turned and kissed him in return on the cheek.

"We will take care of her. And each other."

[kolodnoykovki]

Leaning forward, he rested his forehead against hers. "Mm. Thank you for understanding. About me... not... You know."

It was suddenly hard to put it to words. To be able to say how he'd been - and was still - turned off. It'd come back eventually. Surely. It had to. Just... not yet.

[stands_for_hope]

She let her eyes slip closed and leaned back against him with a warm smile.

"There is nothing to thank me for. To love you is to love all of you, all times of you, all places: the bedroom, the battlefield, and all in between. And I cannot imagine a moment where I do not love you."

[kolodnoykovki]

"My memories of my birth family are... really blurry by now," he admitted quietly, "and since then, the only family I've had was Steve and his mom - so I'm... still getting used to being cared for by more people than one or two. But I can promise you I like it." He rubbed her side. "And I love you. Never thought I'd find somebody I love like I love you and Steve."

[stands_for_hope]

"We are all very blessed, that love like this is a part of our lives," she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "Even when we fear, even when we rage, even when we must fight. That such a miracle as this has been granted us... I shall never count a day where I do not thank the goddesses."