Blackbirds

PART 15

Green Arrow walked into the Emergency Room feeling like a man twice his age. Ahead, a trauma team wheeled Troia into ER 2. Wonder Woman, Tempest and Nubia followed on their heels. Already, their voices rose in argument. But it was another, more strident voice coming from the waiting room/temporary triage area that drew his attention. He turned the corner--and was never happier to see Mia in a full blown temper tantrum.

"Your snot nosed brat started it!"

Mia jumped off the gurney and was halfway to Melvin Sloder, Sr. before Arsenal grabbed her. Melvin Sloder, Jr.--a/k/a Slimy Sloder--continued to pick his nose as he watched. Arsenal nodded towards Sloder as he and Nightwing wrestled Mia back to her gurney.

"You might wanna have a seat."

"You might want to mind your own goddamn business!" Sloder huffed. "I was told the Youth Center was a safe place." He waved a hand to include the other children and parents in the waiting room. "I was told it was a quality institution."

"Right now you're bein' told to sit down." gritted Arsenal as politely as he could

"Don't tell me what to do!"

Nightwing glanced over his shoulder. A darkness deeper than night crept into is voice.

"Sit. Down."

Sloder slunk down in his chair. His son wiped a booger underneath the table. Mia rolled her eyes in disgust before realizing Green Arrow was there.

"G.A.!"

Immediately, Sloder was back on his feet airing his complaints to the archer.

"That meta loving cunt--" Sloder jabbed an angry finger in Mia's direction "--and her freaks--" he pointed to Nightwing and Arsenal flanking her "--threatened me!"

"Yeah?" Ollie's voice took on a deceptively mild tone. "Well, I wouldn't let 'em worry you." He grinned. "'Cause if you call her that again, I'll knock you into next week myself." He left Sloder sputtering his indignation.

Wordlessly, Green Arrow pulled Mia into a bear hug. Her bandaged hands squeezed tight against his neck. She buried her head against his shoulder. "Easy, kid." He rocked her in his arms, knowing what she was about to face.

He looked up at Arsenal. "Lian?"

"Swallowed some smoke. She's in Peds. Visitors every hour or so."

Green Arrow nodded. Finally, he forced himself to meet Nightwing's searching eyes. "Tempest could use some help makin' Troia comfortable." Mia looked up sharply. "Donna's here?" Ollie continued as if she hadn't spoken. "We'll be along shortly."

It felt like a fist squeezed his heart. He wanted to comfort Roy. And Dick. And stay here with Mia. And check on Lian. He watched as Connor caught up to Roy and Dick fell in to step with Garth as they entered Donna's room. He wanted to be somewhere else--anywhere else. Mia watched him expectantly. He needed to be here. He pulled her gurney into an empty area. Pulled the privacy curtains around them.

"I've always been straight with you, Mia."

"Liar."

"When you were directly involved, I was straight with you."

"Okay."

"I'm not about to pull my punches now. This situation sucks. You got some tough choices to make. You can't do that without facin' the facts." He took Mia's hand in his. "Donna can't hold on much longer."

"You don't know that."

"I've seen her, you haven't."

"You're not a doctor."

"No, but I have been dead."

It was painful to watch the play of emotions across her face. To watch her fidget with her wedding band. To know that she didn't have the time she should have had to come to terms with everything.

"You came back."

Green Arrow closed his eyes. God, he was sick of hearing that. Sick of his resurrection instilling false hope in people instead of being seen as the billion to one shot it actually was. Sick of seeing the too easily read thoughts on Mia's face he had seen on so many others. If Oliver Queen who was such a royal screw up got a second chance, why shouldn't someone more deserving get a second chance, too? It was a question he finally realized he would never be able to answer.

"Stop bein' selfish and take care of business, Mia."

"Selfish?!"

"You just got married. You just got a house. You just got used to the idea of spendin' the rest of your life with her. Jesus fucking H. Christ, you think I don't get that? It's a raw deal. But--" He gripped her arms, turned her to him. "--you don't get to piss and moan about it right now. Right now you gotta get your head straight. See that Donna gets the treatment she needs."

"The doctors--"

"Aren't doin' a damned thing."

"What? Why not?"

"Diana's stepped in as her sister to refuse treatment."

"I can't--I can't just...." Mia's voice trailed off into uneasy silence.

Ollie sighed. He was hoping it wouldn't come to this but Mia was stubborn. The best argument he could make would be for her to see Donna herself. He had tried to prepare her. Tried to soften the blow. Maybe she needed the shock to propel her into action.

"C'mon."

Mia hopped down and followed him out into the corridor. Past a glaring Sloder and son. Past a sympathetic Black Canary. To the threshold of ER 2. Mia stopped at the doors. Ollie squeezed her shoulder as she took in the scene before her. Medics, Amazons, Nightwing, Arsenal, Tempest. A blur passed her and suddenly Flash was there, too. The Titans, reunited.

"Mia..."

And in the middle of it all, something that couldn't possibly be Donna.

"Mia..."

Not her Donna.

Reluctantly, Ollie played his trump card. "You love someone, you don't leave 'em like this."

Mia's eyes never left Donna. "I'll handle it."

"If you need me--"

"I'll handle it, Ollie."