Chapter 25: The End…Or New Beginnings?
I am so so sorry for the late chapter, also for being the last chapter. But do not worry, there will be a sequel. It's an honor for writing this but I can't take all the credit. I want to thank 3DPHANTOM for being my beta reader. She's been amazing and helped me make this story amazing. I hope she'll help me on the sequel. Thank you 3DPHANTOM! :) Anyways enjoy the chapter and please review! Thank you for reading!
Nightwing continues to hold her hand; the door clicks. He quickly puts his and Shadow's mask back on. Batman, along with Martian Manhunter, Dr. Leslie, and Agent A (Alfred with a mask), enter.
"Nightwing," Leslie says as she hugs him.
"Hey Leslie," he responds and hugs her back with one arm. He didn't want to let go of Melinda's hand.
"Nightwing," said Agent A.
"Hey Agent A, thanks for the cookies."
"You are quite welcome. I am glad you are safe."
"Thanks." He turns his head to Leslie. "Can you help her Leslie?"
She looks at Nightwing and gives a small smile. "I'll do my best."
He doesn't like the answer, but nods his head anyways. Leslie begins her examination on Shadow. "J'onn did you find out the health of Laska?"
"Yes. Everything is normal."
"Ok, we'll need to do a blood test." Leslie finds a vein and cleans it; she easily slips the needle and takes out the blood. "This is interesting."
"What?" Nightwing asked in concern.
"Her blood is green."
"Is that normal?" asked Batman as he placed a hand on Nightwing's shoulder.
"What shade of green?" Martian Manhunter asked.
"It's a dark green," said Agent A.
"It's normal on Laska. If it was a light green then she'd be in trouble."
"I'm going to get another sample." Leslie's eyes widen. "Her blood is red now."
"What?"
"It started off dark green, then it change to red."
"So her blood is like ours?" Nightwing asked.
"I think so, anyways I'll run these tests." Before she leaves, she brings a basin full of water and a washcloth. "She's running a slight fever. I don't want it to get higher and make her feel worse."
"Thanks Leslie," says Nightwing as he lets go of Shadow's hand to dampen the washcloth.
"You're welcome." She gives him a kiss on his forehead and leaves the room with Martian Manhunter following.
"Do you want to be alone?" Batman asked.
"No."
"Ok, your team wants to see you."
"Let them in."
"I'll be back later to check up on you."
"Ok dad."
Batman ruffles his hair and gives him a small smile. "You know how to contact me."
Nightwing nods and watches him leave the room. He stares at Shadow's face; it squints but relax when he touches her. He takes a deep breath and kisses her cheek.
"You're going to be ok, Melinda."
"Nightwing?"
He turns to see Artemis at the door along with Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, Aqualad, Zatanna, Rocket, and Red Arrow.
"Hey guys."
"How are you doing my friend?" Aqualad asked as he grips Nightwing's shoulder.
"I'm fine."
"Dude, you don't have to act tough with us," said Kid Flash. "We're you're friends. We're here for you."
"Thanks. So how are the others?"
"The League and rest of the Young Justice are doing some training and monitoring," said Rocket.
"Your friends from the Death Games are resting," added Zatanna.
"That's good. So Conner, M'gann… when did you plan to tell us that you guys are going to be parents?"
"Is it that noticeable?" M'gann asked as she holds her stomach.
"No M'gann, Nightwing was just trained by Batman," said Red Arrow.
Nightwing chuckles. "Congratulations."
"Thanks Nightwing," said Superboy as he hugs M'gann.
They begin to talk more till Shadow lets out a moan, Nightwing quickly grabs her hand and whispers her name. All the sudden, Shadow sits up wide awake and screams at the top of her lungs. Nightwing pulls her into his arms, but she's fighting him. He knows she's having a nightmare.
"Let me go! Let me go!" She screams and tears run down her cheeks. "I need to find him! Let me go! He'll die!"
"Who Shadow?" Nightwing asked with concern.
"Nightwing! Don't leave me! Please don't leave me! NIGHTWING!"
"I'm here Shadow. You're having a nightmare. I'm here!"
Then Batman, Leslie, Agent A, J'onn, and other heroes enter the room quickly. They heard Shadow scream.
"Superman, Superboy, hold her down while I give her this," said Leslie as she holds a needle.
Superboy gently grabs Shadow's shoulders and lays her down. Superman holds her feet, but they're struggling as she's fighting them. Nightwing whispers in her ear and she relaxes, releasing a small moan in pain while Leslie gives her a shot.
"What did you do?" Kid Flash asked.
"I'll tell you later. Leslie, what's wrong with her?"
She sighs. "Nightwing, Shadow has poison running in her bloodstream. Her immune system is fighting it."
"Then will she make it?" Red Arrow asked.
"It's hard to say. If her immune system fails then she'll die in an hour."
Nightwing's eyes widen in fear, without thinking he begins to shake his head in denial. He looks down at Shadow's face and painfully whispers… "No. It can't be."
Batman rests his hand on his son's shoulder, while Red Hood and Robin stand by their older brother. Nobody notices Batgirl and the other players enter the room.
"Is there anything we can do to help her?" Robin asked in order to give hope to everybody, especially Nightwing.
"The only thing we can do now is pray. Only Shadow can fight this."
"She'll win." Nightwing said in a gentle tone as he stroked her cheek lovingly. "She's strong."
"She was always strong in the games," said Zals.
"And in her past," added Buzz.
"And for us, especially for you Nightwing," said Kale.
"Wait a second! Sky, can't you tell us that Shadow will live?" asked Mac.
"My powers don't work like that. I can't control what I see," she said in a sad voice.
"We'll have to wait and see," said Scar as he holds Jen.
In Shadow's mind
"Mellindeana."
'What?'
"Come on sweetie, you need to wake up."
Slowly Shadow opens her eyes, but quickly close them from the bright light. She hears a familiar laugh. Trying to open her eyes again, she sees a male and female standing in front of her. She gasps at their appearance and said, "Gema? Tepa?"
"It's us," said the female as she hugged Shadow. Without hesitation, Shadow hugs her back and the male joins them. "We miss you."
"I miss you too," Shadow sobs.
"We're so sorry Mellindeana." The male said in a guilty voice. "Because of our deaths, you had to be force to live in the woods. I hope you can forgive us."
"You're my parents. Of course I forgive you."
"Oh Mellindean," said the mother as they slowly break the hug. She gently strokes her daughter's face. "You've grown into a wonderful woman."
"Thank you Gema."
"You're very beautiful," said the father.
"Thanks Tepa." Then Shadow realizes the situation and what's going on. "Wait… where am I!?"
"I was wondering when you would ask. You're in Limbo."
"Limbo?"
"Yes; this is the place where souls come to decide if they want to pass on or to continue living."
"What?"
"What your father is saying is that you can go back if you want."
"I can go back?"
"Yes, the choice is yours," said Tepa.
"Whatever you decide, we'll be happy for you," added Gema.
Shadow looks down at her feet, then back at her parents. Her thoughts begin to drift off to the past; what horrible things people would say: "Stay away from her!" "It's her! The demon child!" "That girl is nothing but trouble." "Stay back, before you curse us with you demon powers!" "She's the reason her parents died." Shadow shakes her head to memories, but a soft voice gets her attention.
"…no matter what happens. I will always love you."
"Dick?"
"Mellindeana?" Her mother gently places a hand on her shoulder.
Shadow smiles and looks at her parents lovingly. "I'm going back."
"Because of that boy?" asked Tepa. Shadow nods her head. "Thought so. I approve of him."
"Thanks Tepa."
"Take care and live happy," said Gema.
"I will." She hugs her parents one last time. "I love you."
"We love you too," said Tepa.
"Now Mellindeana, all you have to do is close your eyes and think of him."
Shadow nods and thinks of Nightwing, her friend, her boyfriend, and maybe her future husband.
Meanwhile with Nightwing
'Five minutes left.' He thought as the clock ticked. The others left to give Nightwing time with Shadow, who is panting. He keeps putting the cloth on her forehead and removed her mask when everyone left.
"Melinda, I know you can hear me. We have about four minutes left." He sighs. "I'm sorry this is happening to you. It should be me in your position, but then you'd be wishing for the same." Nightwing grabs her hand and places it over his heart. "If this didn't happen, we would be celebrating our success. Then I was going to take you to my apartment." He laughs. "The place is a mess, but I know you won't care. I was going to carry you to my bed, I would let you wear one of my shirts as pajamas. Then I would hold you close to me and tell you how much I love you. Later I would introduce you to my family and friends, where I work, and what Earth has." He takes off his mask to become Dick Grayson. Dick let's go of her hand and leans to her ear. "Melinda, despite the events that happen, I enjoy being with you. If you get to choose to live or die, just know that no matter what happens. I will always love you."
He moves his head to where his and hers were touching. Dick gently kisses her lips and closes his eyes so that the tears won't fall. Then he feels something…no. Someone… kissing him back. Dick's eyes meet Melinda's violet orbs.
"Mel...Mel…Melinda?"
"Yes," she said in a soft voice.
"Yo…You…You're al-"
"I'm alive Dick." She raise her hand to touch his cheek. "I'm not going anywhere yet."
Without thinking, they begin to kiss passionately. They didn't know how long it lasted but they didn't care. Melinda and Dick break off and hold each other. She told him about seeing her parents again.
"Didn't you want to stay with them?"
"Yes, but I wanted to see what you have in store for me."
"I'm warning you now. My life gets crazy."
"I don't care."
"That's what I like to hear." Dick reaches in his pocket to reveal a locket. "I believe this is yours."
Melinda grabs it. "Where did you...?"
"I grabbed it before the ship exploded. I know how much that locket means to you."
"Thank you."
"Anything for my lady."
Dick gives a lopsided grin, Melinda giggles and they kiss again until they fall asleep.
Leslie kept Shadow under watch till she was back to perfect health. Everybody was so happy that Shadow lived. They celebrated extravagantly. Three weeks have gone by and the time for the other players to leave has arrive.
"So what will you guys do?" Superboy asks.
"I'm going back to Varv, to see my bothers again," says Mac.
"I'm going back to Tug," says Saill.
"I'm going back to Punk to take care of my uncle till his death," says Jen.
"What about you Scar?" Bumblebee asks.
"I'm going with Jen, then we'll go to my home."
"Kindle?" asks M'gann.
"Like Jen, I'm going back too, so I can take care of my little sister."
"I can't wait to see my grandmother again," says Zals excitedly.
"I can't wait to see my girlfriend," says Kale.
"Gut is where I'm going," says Buzz.
"I'm going with Gil," says Sky.
"Nightwing and Shadow inspire us," Gil smirks.
"Hope everything works out for you all." Nightwing smiles. "It's been a pleasure meeting you all."
"Likewise," they all respond. Then Green Lantern announces that it's time to go.
"So Shadow, you coming with us?" asks Zals.
"No, my place is here with him," she says as she holds Nightwing's hand.
"Just checking," Zals says with a smile.
"Be sure to invite us to the wedding," says Kindle.
Nightwing and Shadow laugh, and promise them that they'll stay in touch. Then they watch as Green Lantern takes their friends home. Nightwing and Shadow leave together to patrol Bludhaven, but not much crime occurs that night. They go home early, Dick notices that something is off with Melinda. He sees her sitting in the living room, wearing his shirt and sweats.
"Melinda?" She turns her head to him. Dick sits next to her. "Is something wrong?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"You haven't been Melinda lately." She smiles at his words. Dick uses this opportunity to grab her hands. "You can tell me anything."
"It's just that… what if they don't trust me?"
"What?"
"The Young Justice team and the League, what if they don't trust me?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Dick, I know by a look when someone doesn't trust me."
"They'll trust you in time."
"I know, but what if they don't want to?"
"I know they will. Don't you trust me?"
"I trust you with my life."
"Same as I trust you, and now I'm trusting you with everything and everyone else special to me. They'll trust you. Please don't worry about it."
"I'll try." Dick sees that she is still upset. An idea comes to him. He runs his fingers to her sides. He smiles as she laughs. "Dick? Wha-What…are you…do-do-doing?"
"I'm tickling you."
"Wh-Why?!"
"To make you happy." Melinda continues to laugh till Dick stops. He carries her to the bedroom and lays her down. Dick lays next to her and sees her pouting. "What's that face for?"
"You know exactly what it's for."
"Come on Mel, I did it to make you happy." She ignores him. "Come on, you can't be mad at this face."
Dick gives his best puppy face, Melinda makes a mistake by looking. She laughs and kisses his cheek, "You're right. I can't. Hey, what's wrong?"
Dick is giving her a pouted face and grumbles, "You missed?"
"I missed?"
"You got me on the cheek." He pointed to the spot, then to his lips. "I wanted it here."
Melinda smiles, "I'm sorry."
She leans in and kisses him on the lips. He returns the kiss, but starts to kiss her neck. Eventually the night became very passionate. Dick holds Melinda as they prepare to sleep.
"I love you Melinda."
"I love you too Dick. For always and forever."