1Chapter 16

Dinah woke with a start, her eyes darting around the darkened room. Gabby stirred at her side but did not wake up. The taller blonde slipped from her lover's arms and moved through the room swiftly, all her senses telling her that there was something amiss. The crime fighter leaned against the door, her ears straining to hear the slightest sound anything that would indicate an intruder was in the house.

Hearing nothing, she reached out with her mind, searching the house. 'Gothcha!' She thought when she saw the image of a hooded figure creeping through the lower levels of the house. "Dinah?" Turning back she saw Gabby sitting up in the bed watching her curiously. Quickly she raised her finger to her lips in a shushing motion. Looking back out the door, she reached out once more with her mind. Once she was certain where the perp was she moved to Gabby's side. Leaning in she whispered, although fairly certain that they couldn't be heard she didn't want to take the chance.

"Someone is in the house. I want you to stay here; I'm gonna go take a look." Gabby's hand shot out and firmly grasped Dinah's arm. "No! Let's just lock the door and call the police!" Gabby said, her eyes pleading with Dinah. The crime fighter sighed and nodded. Although she knew she could easily handle who ever was sneaking around the lower level of the house Gabby didn't. "I'll lock the door. Call the cops." Getting up she again moved to the door. As she thumbed the lock she gasped, flashes moved in front of her eyes so quickly she barely had time to make sense of them. The door opening, Gabby screaming, a gun, the flash of a shot being fired, and blood. So much blood.

Her eyes went wide as the handle began to twist and turn; someone was trying to open the door. Dinah moved across the room so fast, her feet barely touching the floor. She tackled Gabby to the other side of the bed and onto the floor, covering her mouth with the palm of her hand. The smaller blonde's eyes becoming large as they heard the door to her room splintering. Dinah looked down into Gabby's eyes. 'What ever happens do not make a sound.' She said in her mind. The words 'heard' clearly by her girlfriend. Although she was obviously confused, Gabby nodded. Dinah slowly moved her hand and slid off her girlfriend's body. Dinah nodded towards the underside of the bed and nudged Gabby towards it. Getting the hint, the smaller blonde quietly slid under the bed. Dinah took a moment to straighten out the dust skirt before moving forward.

Moving on her knees, she peaked around the end of the bed to the other side of the room where the creep was now rifling through the contents of Gabby's desk. Dinah's attention was so focused on the guy at the desk that she didn't notice the other intruder that had entered the room until she had the barrel of a gun pointed at her temple. "Don't move, Bitch!" The intruder growled. Dinah immediately froze, mentally cursing herself for the slip. "Yeah...that's it. Stand up slowly." The blonde slowly lifted her hands and stood up, all the while trying to come up with a way to get out of this mess.

'It's going to be okay, Gabby. Just stay calm and stay hidden.' Dinah projected this thought to Gabby. She could sense the girl's confusion and fear combined with the strong desire to help her. Dinah only hoped that she would just do what she asked and stay put.

"Lookie what I found." The guy holding the gun on her said as he shoved her towards the perp going through Gabby's desk. The guy stopped what he was doing and got right in Dinah's face. The acrid stench of his breath washed over her face, causing her to gag.

"What's wrong, rich girl? Does my breath offend your delicate sensibilities?" Dinah rolled her eyes, earning her a swift back hand to the face. "Show some respect girlie, or I might get angry with you." Stink breath growled at her before shoving her to the floor. Dinah did her best to focus on something other than the pain racing across her cheek. Both men laughed as she wiped the blood from her split lip, the one who had found her sounded like a barking dog, she noted idly.

"Watch her while I finish looking for what we came here for." Stink breath told dog guy. 'I really have to work on giving these guys better names.' Dinah was pulled from her thoughts when dog guy plopped on to the bed causing Gabby to yelp, and in turn causing both intruders' heads to snap in the direction the sound had come from. "Shit!" Dinah said under her breath as her body tensed, ready to do battle with both the armed men.

"There's someone else in the room!"

"Find 'em!!"

Chaos erupted as dog guy bent down to look under the bed and was rewarded with a face full of mace. As Stink breath quickly moved to aid his fallen comrade, Dinah sprung into action, launching the full weight of her slight body and the added oompf of a telekinetic push at the guy as he passed her. The two began to struggle; Gabby scooted out from her hiding spot and grabbed the heavy bedside lamp, bringing it down on top of dog guy's head, silencing his agonized screams as he rubbed at his eyes.

Dinah struggled to focus her mind, to try and get the upper hand against the man as he wrapped one of his large hands around her neck, but it was no use. Her mind clouded and she began to lose focus. Just before she blacked out the man threw her across the room, turning his attention to Gabby, who had jumped on his back to try and save her girlfriend. Dinah gasped for air as she tried to get her bearings when she saw the man knock Gabby to the floor and aim his gun at her head. She saw the blast and heard the roar of the bullet being fired.

"No!" She screamed, her mind amplifying the thought and blasting it though the perpetrator's mind, dropping him to the floor almost instantly. Dinah's eyes went wide as she realized what she had done, her world went black.

Later...

Dinah winced as the familiar surroundings of Barbara's med lab came into focus. Groaning, she raised one of her hands to her head to shield her eyes from the bright lights that shone down on her prone body.

"Well, well, well...Look who has decided to rejoin us. How is your head feeling, kid?" Helena teased as she appeared at Dinah's side.

"Like it's been put through a meat grinder. What the hell happened to me?" The red head and brunette exchanged worried looks as they watched their blonde protégé struggle to sit up. Having seen enough, Barbara gently pushed Dinah back down to the exam table.

"Why don't you just lay down for now, Dinah?" The blonde teen sighed and let her body drop. "What is the last thing you remember?" Her mentor asked, trying to prod the blonde's mind to remember the events that lead to her current condition. Dinah frowned, her forehead creased slightly.

"You sent me and Gabby home. We went and got something to eat then laid down for a nap." Her frown deepened as random flashes began to filter through. "Something woke me up. A sound or just a feeling something was wrong." Her voice trailed off and her eyes went wide. "There were men in the house." Frightened eyes turned to Barbara. "Gabby! Where's Gabby?!" Dinah was up and moving almost faster than the eye could follow, but not fast enough to escape the Huntress' grasp. Dinah struggled to free herself from her adopted sister's hold, but to no avail.

"Helena, let go! I need to make sure she's okay!" The brunette was having none of it; she carefully tightened her hold on the teen, while murmuring words of reassurance that didn't seem to be reaching the distraught teen.

"Dinah, stop!" Barbara yelled, finally stilling the girl's frantic effort. The blonde looked at her mentor, tears streaming down her face. "She's fine. She is asleep in your room; Alfred is keeping an eye on her."

"How did you know I was in trouble?"

"Reese got the call and gave us a heads up." Helena said.

"She thinks that you were taken to the hospital to be checked over. But we all know that can't happen because too many questions would be asked. I promised that I would bring you straight home as soon as the doctor's cleared you." Barbara explained to the girl, who visibly relaxed.

"I need to see her." Dinah said as she tried to stand yet again, only to be stopped by Helena's deceptively strong arms. "Wait. There's more Dinah." The red head said as she looked into confused blue eyes.

"What more?" Dinah asked warily. She relaxed her body and was released by Helena. Sitting back on the exam table she looked at both women.

"What else do you remember Dinah? What is the last thing you can recall?"

"Being thrown against the wall. I was about to pass out, I saw one of the guys holding a gun on Gabby." Dinah visibly shuddered at the memory. "I remember being afraid for her and then the world went dark."

Barbara nodded but didn't say anything as she went to look at the read outs on one of the machine's monitoring Dinah's vital signs. "Did they catch the guys?" Dinah asked as Helena released her hold on her. The two women exchanged glances once again, before Helena nodded.

"Yeah...They got them." Dinah knew that there was more to it then that, but didn't feel like playing this little game of twenty questions her mentor's had going on.

"Barbara, either tell me what is going on, or let me go to Gabby." Dinah demanded. The red head sighed and then turned around, taking one of Dinah's wrists; she placed a hospital id bracelet on her wrist and said. "Something terrible happened tonight, Dinah." Green eyes locked with blue. "And I just want to make sure that you are okay with it."

The blonde teen frowned, but nodded. "Now, I am gonna tell you the truth, but I need you to keep in mind that you were protecting someone you cared about." These words caused cold fear to run along Dinah's spine.

"What did I do, Barbara?" The youngest member of their team asked closing her eyes and cursing her mind for not revealing its secrets.

Helena stepped forward and hooked a finger under Dinah's chin; forcing the girl she had come to think of as a little sister, to meet her eyes.

"You protected someone you cared about. You saved yourself and the girl you are in love with, D!" Helena said fiercely.

"Is he dead?"

"Yes." Barbara answered quietly. "Gabby was babbling about him firing the gun at her, but it was her assailant that died...not her. We told her that the gun must have misfired." The teen's frown deepened as she stared off into space.

"Can I go now?" The blonde asked her voice monotonous. Though they were worried, both women nodded. Barbara followed the teenager to the waiting lift, noting the pronounced slump of the girl's shoulders, her body language trumpeting to the world her sense of defeat. Helena followed both women, hugging an unresponsive Dinah and promising to call Barbara once she knew more about the guys that had attacked the girls.

There was an awkward silence in the lift as it slowly moved down toward the floor that housed their living quarters. Just before the doors opened Dinah turned her sad blue eyes to her mentor. "Barbara?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Is it safe for me to be around Gabby?" The red head looked at the girl and smiled softly, tugging on her hand and pulling her into an awkward hug.

"Dinah, I truly believe that it is perfectly safe for you to be around Gabby." Barbara smiled at the teen "You have to keep in mind that you were in a really traumatic situation, probably one of the worst ones you have ever been in and nothing happened to her." The blonde seemed to think about it for a second before smiling at her mentor. The two women quietly entered the apartment and were greeted by their enigmatic butler.

"Ms. Dinah" The old man said as he pulled the young woman into a rare hug.

"Alfred." Dinah enjoyed the warmth of the hug before disentangling herself from the embrace. "How's Gabby?" The old man smiled at the girl's concern.

"Ms. Andrews is resting in your room. I do believe she would not be opposed to your waking her. The poor girl was absolutely frantic with worry." The teen nodded and smiled her thanks before excusing herself to go find her girlfriend.

The two adults watched the teen make her way down the hall to her bedroom till she disappeared behind a closed door. "How is she really?" Alfred asked the red head. Barbara sighed and took off her glasses, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Physically she's fine. The incident left her with a mild concussion and a few bruises. Mentally…I'm worried about her Alfred. She doesn't remember doing it."

The old man nodded, reaching out, he placed a wrinkled hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "All will work itself out in time miss Barbara. After all, she has the very best mentors."

"Some times I wonder if she does." Barbara said before heading to her room. "Good night Alfred."

"Good night miss."

Dinah closed the door softly once she was in the room and made her way over to her bed where the strawberry blonde was fast asleep. The crime fighter slowly eased her battered body down on to the bed and reached out to tenderly brush a wayward curl from the sleeping girl's face. Gabby's eyes fluttered open then, she stared up at her girlfriend before the fog of sleep cleared and she bolted upright pulling the taller girl into a fierce hug. "Oh my God…you're okay. I was so scared when I couldn't wake you up." Dinah returned the hug, burying her head in the crook of Gabby's neck and whispering reassurances and soothing words when the older girl began to sob.

"Shhh…its okay baby. I'm here, I'm fine. It's okay. Gabby, baby, please stop crying?" She pleaded, causing Gabby to hang on tighter.

"It's not okay. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry, Dinah. I'm so, so sorry." Dinah squeezed her eyes shut and fought against the waves of anguish that were emanating from Gabby and crashing down on her already fragile psyche. Gently she pushed the other girl away, cupping the girl's tearstained face.

Looking into watery eyes, she saw fear and anger and love. Dinah leaned in and kissed Gabby for all she was worth and it didn't take long for the other girl to respond in kind. The kissed for long moments, until the need for oxygen surpassed their need for each other. When they pulled away, Dinah looked into Gabby's eyes and said "You didn't do this to me. They did. I know about the pills Gabby." At those words Gabby pulled away and got up off the bed to stare out the window at the city below.

"How?" There was no accusation in the question, only defeat.

"I was looking for aspirin the other night. I found it in you desk." Dinah said as she got up and stood behind the other girl, tentatively wrapping her arms around her and kissing her lightly on the back of the neck. "You want to tell me about it, maybe I can help you."

"I quit them, D. I swear to you." She said, turning her head to the side and nuzzling the side of Dinah's face. "I started when I was with Gina. She said it would help me keep up with my grades, so I took them. I just needed a little help to get through exam week. But when I tried to stop, I couldn't. It was like I needed it, so I kept on taking them. But then, Gina and I broke up and things with you started to change, and I didn't want to be so druggie. I wanted to be something better for you."

Dinah nodded and smiled, placing a soft kiss on the shorter girls head. "I wanted to walk away from all of it. But they won't let me. And I'm scared that they might hurt you."

"Who did this to you?" Dinah asked softly, gently gliding her fingers across the bruised flesh she had noticed earlier.

"Oz Cooper." Gabby said, shuddering at the name. "They want me to do something for them."

"What?"

"I can't tell you. They'll kill you, and that isn't a price I am willing to pay for my stupidity."

"I can help you, Gabby." Dinah said. There was something in the girl's voice that made her believe. "I won't let them hurt you and I would love to see them try to get to me." There was an edge to Dinah's voice that Gabby had never heard before, something dark, something dangerous. It made her feel safe for the first time since she had run into Oz at the concert.

"I didn't have the cash to pay for my habit, so as payment they would have me hack into certain computers. I didn't want to, but at first the stuff they were having me do seemed juvenile at best. But then they started wanting things like floor plans and stuff. They want me to hack into the Gotham Security Agency's records for the security blue prints to some bank. I think they are going to rob it."

Dinah's arms tightened around the frightened girl's waist before she spoke. "You trust me right?" Gabby nodded. "Right now we are going to go to bed and get some sleep. Tomorrow we are going to Barbara with this." Gabby spun around and began to protest but was silenced by a strong finger placed over her lips. "Trust me, please?"

"I'm so scared Dinah."

"Me to. But after tonight I really think we need to have someone on our side, and Barbara is really someone you want in your corner. Now come on. We both need sleep. I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day."

The girls climbed back into the bed, Gabby snuggling up in Dinah's strong arms as they drifted off to sleep.

Somewhere across town…

"Where are your men?" A dark figure sitting at a desk asked as a man stood nervously in front of him.

"Joey was arrested and I think Oscar is dead."

"You failed." The figure stated as dark eyes bore into the fidgeting young man. "I do not tolerate failure Oswald." Oz cringed at the use of his birth name but kept silent.

"I will get the blue prints, Boss. Just give me another chance." He begged.

"One more chance. This time, do it your self." The man stood, looming over the quivering boy. "Oh, and Oswald…I don't care who your grandfather is. You fail me again and I will kill you, is that understood?" The man's voice was dangerously low.

Oz nodded and replied in a quivering voice. "Yes sir."