Shadows of a Past Life - Part 2 - BoP
Shadows of a Past Life
Continued in Part Two
Dinah
“Bet you didn’t expect to see me here.”
My eyes split open terribly slowly. I feel sluggish and soft, they must have drugged me again. Barbara said she would take care of that. Bastards. How could they just ignore what she says?
I’m here voluntarily and I wasn’t acting out. They shouldn’t be able to do this.
“At least I told you that you are here voluntarily…I may have just got sick of you and decided to check you in myself.”
She’s never been in my room before.
“You wouldn’t do that,” I stutter through dry lips and a swollen throat. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“I dunno, Big D.” Oh great, now she’s mocking me. “I’m capable of a lot of things, even if people don’t expect me to be. You know that.”
“No,” I insist quickly.
“Well I’m here aren’t I? In this mental institution…with you…the mental patient. Obviously there are doctors and orderlies all down the halls. I couldn’t have just strolled on in, visiting hours finished hours and hours ago. You know, when the sun goes down and all the Mommy’s and daddy’s go home so they don’t have to hear their little babies screaming for help.”
She’s being so callous, this isn’t like her.
“You aren’t my mother,” I snap.
“No, Dinah, I’m not. And for that,” she grins evilly and steps towards my bed, then crawls up my body so that our faces are just inches apart, “I am extremely grateful.”
Why am I strapped to this bed again? This can’t be happening.
“Stop,” I cry out.
Her face twists into a sneer, “Oh. No. Don’t. Stop. Always fucking whining aren’t you? Ever wondered that maybe that’s the reason your mother left you….Mom, I’m hungry. Mom, I’m cold. Mommy feed me. Mommy hug me. Shit Dinah, is it all really surprising that the Redmonds thought you were evil?”
I’ve never seen her like this before. I mean that in every way. Her attitude, her body language, even her body pressed so seductively up against mine.
She grabs my shoulders and presses down. I sink into the bed just where she wants me.
Her mouth attaches itself to my neck and sucks roughly. “Really, Dinah. Did you ever think about it? Oh, I’m such a poor baby girl. I saw a pretty lady murdered and a redhead shot. Oh boo hoo. Poor baby Dinah no one believes her.”
Her hands run down my shoulders and press into my stomach, it hurts like hell but I realise that I can hardly move or speak.
“Now Mommy’s dead, Daddy’s a no-show and the woman you love is sleeping with me tonight. How’s it feel D? Losing everything within the space of a ten minute hallucination?”
“Barbara please,” I say softly as she stands up again.
“Oh Barbara please, there it is again. Always fucking whining. Well I’ve said it before D, and I’ll say it again…I can’t help you with that, sorry.”
Barbara
The first thing I notice as I walk into Dinah’s room is that she’s sitting up. The second thing is the colour in her cheeks. She doesn’t smell anymore and her hair seems to have been washed and brushed properly for once.
“You’re up,” Helena says with a giant grin as she practically skips over to the girl and wraps her in a bone breaking hug.
Dinah smiles brightly, “They haven’t drugged me this morning. The Doctor…oh what’s his name? Philips? Yes, that’s it. He says I’ve shown great improvement. I haven’t been talking to anyone--that isn’t actually real--at all today. He said that if this keeps up I could come home soon.”
“That’s great Dinah. We can’t wait for you to come home. The Clocktower’s been so quiet and…”
Helena quickly interrupts me, “yeah, the Clocktower’s been blessedly quiet.” She’s teasing the girl. I don’t know wether that’s a positive thing or not until Dinah’s laugh echoes around us.
“Thanks Hel. Nice to feel wanted,” she says but she’s still smiling so I guess it’s ok.
“As I was saying,” I say louder this time, giving Helena an obvious death glare, “the Clocktower’s been so quiet and I’m very sure that Alfred has no idea what to do with himself. There’s no one to clean up after.”
She’s laughing again and for a second I wonder if the Doctor’s just hooked her up to the laughing gas instead of the sedatives.
“Well Barbara, I’ll see what I can do for poor Alfred when I get back. Maybe I’ll try to cook or something. That should keep him busy for a month or so.”
I can’t help the indignant snort that quickly filters through my nose. Dinah starts laughing even harder, this time at me.
When Dinah finally manages to control her laughter she turns to us expectantly. “So is someone going to fill me in on what’s been happening? You left rather quickly after I mentioned Harley Quinn.”
“We’re sorry about that Dinah but you were…digressing again and we didn’t want to make it worse,” I explain quickly. “Dr Philips thinks that it would be better if you remember how you got here by yourself. Do you remember anything sweetheart?”
She purses her lips and stares at the ceiling for a few minutes. “I remember a few bits and pieces…I…uh. I mean, I remember having dinner with Reese and you guys and Gibson. But it wasn’t in the Clocktower? Is that right?”
“Yes, sweetheart. We all went to dinner.” I have to fight hard not to grimace at the memory of the dinner.
She grins then becomes serious again, “I remember that you and Helena were….Actually I’m not sure about this and it would be very embarrassing if I’m wrong…”
“Just go ahead Kid. Nothing you say could be taken the wrong way. Not around us,” Helena reassures her.
“Well,” she says softly and tucks a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear. It’s been months since I last saw her do that. “I think…I mean, I’m reasonably sure that you guys are…um, together? Dating, I mean?”
I gulp. Not good, not good.
“That’s…true sweetheart and we both hope that you’re ok with it,” I decide to say. Very suave Gordon, could you have sounded any sadder about it?
“It’s cool. Of course…my friend Gabby’s…yeah, it’s cool,” she gushes.
“What else do you remember?” Helena says quickly. She’s just as happy to change the subject as I am.
“Um, actually not a lot. I know I’ve been here four months--Dr Philips told me that. I have some memories from a while ago about a big green room that he says sounds a lot like the cafeteria here. So he says I must have memories of actually coming here. He also said that I was here and I knew why before…well I’m not sure what happened but he says it should all come back to me when I start sessions with the shrink.”
“Yes he told us there wouldn’t be any lasting amnesia. It’s just a matter of getting the memories back,” I say softly. “And when you do, sweetheart, I want you to come to us for anything. Nothing you’ve done has made us care about you any less. I just hope that you feel the same…that anything we might have done has made you love us any less.”
Dinah giggles, “Oh Barbara, what could you have possibly done?”
Helena
I watch through the small glass window of Dr-No-Emotions office as Barbara nods eagerly and smiles. Even Dr-No…uh, Dr Philips, is smiling just a tiny little bit. I’m sure that slight up turn of his lips is a smile.
She’s shaking his hand now and turning towards me with a giant smile. As I hold the door open for her I ask, “Good news then?”
We start the long trip down the white halls to the outside world.
“He said that if this keeps up. Dinah should be ready to come home in a week, maybe two. She’ll have to keep up her weekly sessions with the Doctors and stay on very mild sedatives….and we have to bring her in if anything changes but…she’ll be home Hel.”
Barbara’s smiling again. I think I like that.
“That’s good Babs but…” I sigh. I can’t help it, a hundred different things are rushing through my head and none of them are good.
“But what Helly?” she asks softly as she rests her hands on my hips and stares up at me with big eyes.
“What if she gets worse again? I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. I don’t know if I can…what if when she gets home she gets worse? I won’t send her back here. I won’t Barbara. I’ll kill myself trying to get her better but once she’s outta this hell hole I’m never letting her come back.”
“I know Hel. I know exactly how you feel. If we have to install a padded room in the basement I won’t let her back here either. We can figure this all out later, ok? She’s getting better Helena and that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah,” I agree as we get to the Hummer and Barbara settles herself in front of the steering wheel. “But what if…telling her about us? Wasn’t that what started this whole thing to begin with?”
Barbara stops with her hand half way to the ignition, “It could be Helena but I believe that Dinah has had a lot of hardship in her life and I think that what Dr Philips first said is right. This is all a manifestation of stress.”
“Yeah! I’m the one with voices in my head! As if Dinah…” I cut myself off as Barbara glares at me. “Ok, so maybe she had voices in her head but I mean…well you know what I mean…I have more crazy in my middle finger than Dinah has in her entire body.”
“She’s lost a lot of weight,” Barbara mumbles as she turns the hummer on.
“So we should stock up the pop tarts and the M&M’s?” I ask happily.
TBC
Continued in Part Two
Dinah
“Bet you didn’t expect to see me here.”
My eyes split open terribly slowly. I feel sluggish and soft, they must have drugged me again. Barbara said she would take care of that. Bastards. How could they just ignore what she says?
I’m here voluntarily and I wasn’t acting out. They shouldn’t be able to do this.
“At least I told you that you are here voluntarily…I may have just got sick of you and decided to check you in myself.”
She’s never been in my room before.
“You wouldn’t do that,” I stutter through dry lips and a swollen throat. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“I dunno, Big D.” Oh great, now she’s mocking me. “I’m capable of a lot of things, even if people don’t expect me to be. You know that.”
“No,” I insist quickly.
“Well I’m here aren’t I? In this mental institution…with you…the mental patient. Obviously there are doctors and orderlies all down the halls. I couldn’t have just strolled on in, visiting hours finished hours and hours ago. You know, when the sun goes down and all the Mommy’s and daddy’s go home so they don’t have to hear their little babies screaming for help.”
She’s being so callous, this isn’t like her.
“You aren’t my mother,” I snap.
“No, Dinah, I’m not. And for that,” she grins evilly and steps towards my bed, then crawls up my body so that our faces are just inches apart, “I am extremely grateful.”
Why am I strapped to this bed again? This can’t be happening.
“Stop,” I cry out.
Her face twists into a sneer, “Oh. No. Don’t. Stop. Always fucking whining aren’t you? Ever wondered that maybe that’s the reason your mother left you….Mom, I’m hungry. Mom, I’m cold. Mommy feed me. Mommy hug me. Shit Dinah, is it all really surprising that the Redmonds thought you were evil?”
I’ve never seen her like this before. I mean that in every way. Her attitude, her body language, even her body pressed so seductively up against mine.
She grabs my shoulders and presses down. I sink into the bed just where she wants me.
Her mouth attaches itself to my neck and sucks roughly. “Really, Dinah. Did you ever think about it? Oh, I’m such a poor baby girl. I saw a pretty lady murdered and a redhead shot. Oh boo hoo. Poor baby Dinah no one believes her.”
Her hands run down my shoulders and press into my stomach, it hurts like hell but I realise that I can hardly move or speak.
“Now Mommy’s dead, Daddy’s a no-show and the woman you love is sleeping with me tonight. How’s it feel D? Losing everything within the space of a ten minute hallucination?”
“Barbara please,” I say softly as she stands up again.
“Oh Barbara please, there it is again. Always fucking whining. Well I’ve said it before D, and I’ll say it again…I can’t help you with that, sorry.”
Barbara
The first thing I notice as I walk into Dinah’s room is that she’s sitting up. The second thing is the colour in her cheeks. She doesn’t smell anymore and her hair seems to have been washed and brushed properly for once.
“You’re up,” Helena says with a giant grin as she practically skips over to the girl and wraps her in a bone breaking hug.
Dinah smiles brightly, “They haven’t drugged me this morning. The Doctor…oh what’s his name? Philips? Yes, that’s it. He says I’ve shown great improvement. I haven’t been talking to anyone--that isn’t actually real--at all today. He said that if this keeps up I could come home soon.”
“That’s great Dinah. We can’t wait for you to come home. The Clocktower’s been so quiet and…”
Helena quickly interrupts me, “yeah, the Clocktower’s been blessedly quiet.” She’s teasing the girl. I don’t know wether that’s a positive thing or not until Dinah’s laugh echoes around us.
“Thanks Hel. Nice to feel wanted,” she says but she’s still smiling so I guess it’s ok.
“As I was saying,” I say louder this time, giving Helena an obvious death glare, “the Clocktower’s been so quiet and I’m very sure that Alfred has no idea what to do with himself. There’s no one to clean up after.”
She’s laughing again and for a second I wonder if the Doctor’s just hooked her up to the laughing gas instead of the sedatives.
“Well Barbara, I’ll see what I can do for poor Alfred when I get back. Maybe I’ll try to cook or something. That should keep him busy for a month or so.”
I can’t help the indignant snort that quickly filters through my nose. Dinah starts laughing even harder, this time at me.
When Dinah finally manages to control her laughter she turns to us expectantly. “So is someone going to fill me in on what’s been happening? You left rather quickly after I mentioned Harley Quinn.”
“We’re sorry about that Dinah but you were…digressing again and we didn’t want to make it worse,” I explain quickly. “Dr Philips thinks that it would be better if you remember how you got here by yourself. Do you remember anything sweetheart?”
She purses her lips and stares at the ceiling for a few minutes. “I remember a few bits and pieces…I…uh. I mean, I remember having dinner with Reese and you guys and Gibson. But it wasn’t in the Clocktower? Is that right?”
“Yes, sweetheart. We all went to dinner.” I have to fight hard not to grimace at the memory of the dinner.
She grins then becomes serious again, “I remember that you and Helena were….Actually I’m not sure about this and it would be very embarrassing if I’m wrong…”
“Just go ahead Kid. Nothing you say could be taken the wrong way. Not around us,” Helena reassures her.
“Well,” she says softly and tucks a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear. It’s been months since I last saw her do that. “I think…I mean, I’m reasonably sure that you guys are…um, together? Dating, I mean?”
I gulp. Not good, not good.
“That’s…true sweetheart and we both hope that you’re ok with it,” I decide to say. Very suave Gordon, could you have sounded any sadder about it?
“It’s cool. Of course…my friend Gabby’s…yeah, it’s cool,” she gushes.
“What else do you remember?” Helena says quickly. She’s just as happy to change the subject as I am.
“Um, actually not a lot. I know I’ve been here four months--Dr Philips told me that. I have some memories from a while ago about a big green room that he says sounds a lot like the cafeteria here. So he says I must have memories of actually coming here. He also said that I was here and I knew why before…well I’m not sure what happened but he says it should all come back to me when I start sessions with the shrink.”
“Yes he told us there wouldn’t be any lasting amnesia. It’s just a matter of getting the memories back,” I say softly. “And when you do, sweetheart, I want you to come to us for anything. Nothing you’ve done has made us care about you any less. I just hope that you feel the same…that anything we might have done has made you love us any less.”
Dinah giggles, “Oh Barbara, what could you have possibly done?”
Helena
I watch through the small glass window of Dr-No-Emotions office as Barbara nods eagerly and smiles. Even Dr-No…uh, Dr Philips, is smiling just a tiny little bit. I’m sure that slight up turn of his lips is a smile.
She’s shaking his hand now and turning towards me with a giant smile. As I hold the door open for her I ask, “Good news then?”
We start the long trip down the white halls to the outside world.
“He said that if this keeps up. Dinah should be ready to come home in a week, maybe two. She’ll have to keep up her weekly sessions with the Doctors and stay on very mild sedatives….and we have to bring her in if anything changes but…she’ll be home Hel.”
Barbara’s smiling again. I think I like that.
“That’s good Babs but…” I sigh. I can’t help it, a hundred different things are rushing through my head and none of them are good.
“But what Helly?” she asks softly as she rests her hands on my hips and stares up at me with big eyes.
“What if she gets worse again? I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. I don’t know if I can…what if when she gets home she gets worse? I won’t send her back here. I won’t Barbara. I’ll kill myself trying to get her better but once she’s outta this hell hole I’m never letting her come back.”
“I know Hel. I know exactly how you feel. If we have to install a padded room in the basement I won’t let her back here either. We can figure this all out later, ok? She’s getting better Helena and that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah,” I agree as we get to the Hummer and Barbara settles herself in front of the steering wheel. “But what if…telling her about us? Wasn’t that what started this whole thing to begin with?”
Barbara stops with her hand half way to the ignition, “It could be Helena but I believe that Dinah has had a lot of hardship in her life and I think that what Dr Philips first said is right. This is all a manifestation of stress.”
“Yeah! I’m the one with voices in my head! As if Dinah…” I cut myself off as Barbara glares at me. “Ok, so maybe she had voices in her head but I mean…well you know what I mean…I have more crazy in my middle finger than Dinah has in her entire body.”
“She’s lost a lot of weight,” Barbara mumbles as she turns the hummer on.
“So we should stock up the pop tarts and the M&M’s?” I ask happily.
TBC