[Chapter 38]

"You apologized to Sara?" I asked, looking up from my journal as Leonard sauntered into my room. I was sprawled on my bed, reading over the entries from years ago. He kissed my forehead and then layed next to me, pulling me closer to him by my waist.

His hands rested lazily at the edge of my plain white t-shirt and I gave him an exasperated sigh for his slow response.

"Yes yes, I apologized to Sara." He finally replies.

"Good. I hope she punched you before she forgave you," I nod, turning back to my journal.

"Hey!" Leonard exclaims and I give him an incredulous look, making him throw up his hands in defeat before placing them back on my stomach. "Fine I deserved that."

"Damn straight," I mumble and turn the page, but I wasn't focusing on the words anymore.

"What's wrong?" Leonard asks softly, his breath warm on my neck.

"Nothing's wrong." I reply evenly.

"Are you mad that I considered leaving you and the team?"

"No."

"Then what's really bothering you?"

"Nothing."

It happened so fast I didn't see it. One minute I was on my side staring at my journal and the next, I was flat on my back with Leonard hovering over me, staring directly in those ice-blue eyes.

"Don't lie to me." His voice was low.

"I'm not ly-- fine." I give in, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm worried that not all of us are going to make it out of here. I'm worried that Fate or God or whatever control the universe is about to screw us over."

Leonard was silent for once. I could see in his eyes that he was thinking over what I said and was trying to come up with a reassuring reply that didn't sound like total bullshit.

"Whatever happens, we'll get through it together. It's you and me. It's us and the team. We have each other's back. We are going to get through this together." He repeats and grasps my hand, lacing our fingers together.

"Promise?" My voice cracked.

"Promise."

***

We were geared up and ready to go. I was back in my leather jacket and black leggings. My hair was in a french braid and I had weapons on every part of my body. An automatic rifle was slung over one shoulder, and a long sword was sheathed at the other. Countless daggers, both hidden and visible, were within reach.

The Time Masters and Vandal Savage seem to think that I belong to them.

But I belong to only one person. And I will never bow or stand down for anyone else.

I was rallying up my power as Martin talked, but I was only half listening. I could taste revenge in the air, and it was sweet and savory.

All of a sudden, the ship shook and the lights turned red, signifying that we're here. I struggled to control my breathing, my heart rate. Panic will help no one. I just pray to whatever is listening that we will all get out alive and preferably in one piece.

The door opened and Rip let out a long breath. And before he could let himself change his mind, he walked out onto the street, the rest of the team following.

I walked in between Leonard and Mick, bringing up the rear. My hands twitched in range of my knives, but I resisted the urge to grab them.

Not yet. Not yet. Not yet.

We barely made it to the front of the Time Masters building when we were surrounded by soldiers, all with lethal futuristic weapons aimed at our heads.

"Hello again, Rip. Right on schedule," Time Master Druce said and my powers begged to be released, to end the bastard's life right here and now. But I didn't allow myself to give in.

Not yet. Not yet. Not yet.

"Uh, I think we walked into a trap," Ray said nervously.

"No, it's destiny," Druce countered dramatically. "I must say, you all played your parts well. As with everything else you've done, I'm afraid it was all for nothing."

"All your postering. All your claims about doing what's best for the timeline, about protecting history, and it all comes down to cold blooded murder." Rip hissed.

"The difference between murder and execution is only a matter of authority," Druce replies and I resist the urge to spit at his feet. "I have it. You don't."

He drags his eyes to me. "Come here." He commanded me like I was some pet. Some weapon to be controlled only by him.

"No." I hissed, my eyes practically glowing violet from my wrath. Druce just looked exasperated.

"Grab her. Kill them." He commanded the soldiers.

I sensed Jax and the electricity from the Jumpship moments before he fired. I threw out my power, striking the soldiers reaching for me.

The rest of the team ducked to protect themselves but I remained standing and laughed when the soldiers shot me.

I absorbed the laser light, fueling my strength, my anger, my vengeance.

Jax and I both took down the soldiers that surrounded us, blood spilling and cries of pain being heard in every direction.

One by one, the soldiers fell and Jax landed the Jumpship.

"Hope I'm not too late," Jax smiled.

"No, Jefferson. You're right on time," Stein replied joyfully and they merged together into Firestorm.

We shared a look of triumph while Rip was struggling to find his words. "How did you-"

"What? You thought you were the only one who knew a thing or two about time travel?" Jax replies.

"Good work." Rip nods his approval. "We need to get to the Oculus before reinforcements arrive." Rip raced toward the doors of the building, the rest of us following behind.

We got in formation and strolled inside of the building. I was tense and had two fighting knives in my palms. A shared look with Leonard told me he was nervous as well.

Ray raced ahead toward a giant green glowing pit that honestly looked very omnius. He headed straight for what I assumed to be the Oculus with Rip right on his heels.

"It'll take about two minutes to figure out how to self-destruct this thing." Ray informed us.

"We'll buy you some time. You lot, guard the entrance. Mr. Rory and Ms. Light, stay here with me."

Leonard and I shared a look that pretty much said be careful. I ran up to the platform that stood in the center of the giant green pit, me taking one side of the Oculus and Rip and Mick taking the other. Ray continued working in the hole in the center of the machine.

I was tense, listening to the commotion outside. To the sounds of my friends fighting to protect us. I sheathed the knives that were in my palms and then slung the automatic rifle into my arms.

I crouched, pulling out extra ammo from where I had hidden it in my sleeves, should I need it. I took a deep, focusing breath, thinking about what I was fighting for.

Vengeance for my brother and sister.

Revenge for the suffering I have gone through since then.

Protection... for the man I love. For the friends I have found. For the family that dragged me back from the depths of despair.

I opened my eyes and turned off safety.

"Hurry up Haircut," Mick rushed.

"How much longer?" Rip asked softer than Mick.

"Well, just about to reverse the polarity matrix. Once I do that, I say we have about two minutes before this whole place goes boom." Ray explained.

"How big of a boom?" Mick asked.

"On a scale from one to ten... a googolplex," Ray replies and I found his joke to actually be amusing for once.

"Is that even a real number?" I ask, the smile clear in my voice.

Ray pulled off his helmet and I saw a glimpse of a smile from the corner of my eye.

"What are you doing?" Rip hissed, making me look at them.

"I can't work with all this gear on," Ray grunted.

"You can't!"

"A programmer needs his hands."

"Ray..."

"I got this, don't worry."

"No you don't," Rip said firmly. "This is what I saw. This is what Druce showed me. This is how you die."

Ray paused at that for a moment. "It's okay. All my life I've wanted to make a difference. Creating a future for you guys without the Time Masters influence, that counts."

"Ray you can't." I deny softly.

At that moment, I heard the shouts of reinforcements rushing from the opposite end of the building straight for us.

Soon, laser guns are starting to be shot at us and I turned my attention back to what I have to do.

Vengeance. Revenge. Protection.

"That said, I'm in no rush to die, so keep 'em off me, okay?" Ray replies.

"We got you." Mick said and fired with his heat gun.

I didn't even look where I fired, I just took aim where I felt the presence of a soldier and fired. My body absorbed the kickback of the gun like it was nothing and I fired again and again and again.

Never missing.

I threw out my power as well, to those that managed to get close enough.

I choked the air out of their lungs, boiled their blood, drowned them in water that came from their bodies.

I didn't make it quick. I wanted them to feel, even if it's just a fraction, what I felt every time my life started over and over and over again.

I distinctly heard Rip get struck and fall to the ground, but I couldn't rush to assist him. The soldiers were replacing the ones I killed faster than I could kill them.

I let out a cry that was filled with my pain and anger and threw out all six elements at the gathering army.

Whoever touched my magic died on the spot.

"Almost done." I distinctly heard Ray say. "Uh-oh."

My heart fell at that.

"Uh-oh?" Mick, Rip, and I say in unison.

"There seems to be a failsafe to prevent tampering, which probably includes trying to blow this thing up." Ray replied.

"English, Haircut," Mick growled.

"I have to maintain contact with the failsafe in order to destroy the Oculus."

"Not that much English," Mick replies, and I detected a hint of worry in his voice.

"Get back to the ship," Ray says.

"We are not leaving without you!" Rip yells back.

More shots fired. More soldiers died.

"You've already seen the future: I'm dead already." Ray counters firmly.

"You're right," Mick says, speaking softer than I thought was ever possible for the grim brute.

I realized what he was going to do a moment too late.

Mick knocked Ray out with his gun and quickly took Ray's place in holding down the failsafe.

I'm unable to move from the shock of Mick's sacrifice. All I can do is shoot soldiers down, racking my brain for any way to save Mick. To make sure no one on our team has to die.

"Mick..." Rip says softly.

"I got this. I want revenge on those bastards. Now get out of here." Mick said.

I reloaded up on ammo and continued striking, with both my powers and with the rifle.

Mick fired on the other side with his heat gun.

Rip minimized Ray and held onto him. Then he gestured to me.

"I'm not leaving Mick." I say stubbornly.

"I always did like you," Mick smiled grimly.

I just shook my head harder. "I'm staying right here until they are out. I'll teleport myself out of here once you guys are safe. But I'm holding the line with you Mick."

Mick just rolled his eyes. I guestered at Rip to go and thankfully he listened. Even though I have no intention of making it back on the ship without everyone.

Mick and I worked as a unit. Where one faltered, the other struck. Slowly, the amount of soldiers amounted to very few, and that's when I turned to Mick.

"You should go." Mick shouted over at me.

"I am not leaving Leonard's best friend to die." I shouted right back.

"You stupid girl. If you don't leave right now, we are both going to die. Leonard will lose not only his friend but his lover too."

I gritted my teeth at that, and heard the familiar hum of Leonard's gun.

No no no. He's supposed to be on the ship. He's supposed to be safe.

"Mick!" He yelled, fury lining his words.

"Get out of here!" Mick yelled back.

Sparks flew from where a soldier shot and I quickly shot him down.

"Not without you Mick." Leonard shouts.

"Pretty boy said I gotta hold this stick for the ship to blow. So I'm holding this stick. Now leave!"

"My old friends, please forgive me," Leonard said so softly, I could barely hear him.

"For what?"

Leonard struck Mick just as Mick struck Ray, knocking him out. Leonard swiftly took Mick's place just as Sara came up to us.

"What are you doing?!" I cry out, my eyes wide in shock.

"Get him out of here!" Leonard shouted at the two of us.

"No." Sara said, slightly choking on the word.

"Just do it." Leonard replies and looks at me with so much sorrow that my heart threatened to shatter.

He turned away, a silent command to go.

I turned to Sara and she saw what I planned to do.

I rushed over and embraced her tightly.

"Thank you," my voice a quivering whimper. "Thank you for that day in my room. Tell Leonard-" I whispered the instructions in her ear and felt a sob threatening to break free from her.

I pressed my brow to hers and smile.

"It was an honor to be your friend Little Bird," she smiles at the nickname. "I love you."

A tear rolled down her cheek as we pulled away and she went over to Mick and quickly got him out of there.

"What are you still doing here?" Leonard yells at me.

"I'm not leaving you." I reply, coming over to his side.

"No," Leonard whispers.

I put my hand over his hand that was holding the failsafe in place and tucked myself in his side. His arm pulled me closer against him, shielding me from the outside world, and I could feel the emotions that threatened to break the surface of his normally cool mask.

I kissed him, soft and sweet, and wrapped my other arm around his waist.

"If you're going to die, I'm gonna die with you. I love you," I whispered, my voice revealing my hidden tears. Leonard kisses the top of my head.

"I love you. Wherever we go, we go together." He promised.

I breathed in the smell of him. The smell of evergreen and mint filled me up and cemented the plan of what I had to do.

"No, shut it down!" Druce yelled at us. Soldiers aimed their weapons at us, ready to shoot.

"SHUT IT DOWN!" Druce roared in fury.

"There are no strings on us." Leonard hissed.

I showed the Time Master all the hate I have for him. I caressed the ring, my brother's ring, that was currently on Leonard's ring finger.

Leonard's eyes met mine and I gave him a small smile.

An apology.

Just as we lifted our hands from the failsafe, I sent my power, my siblings power, every morsel of love and feeling, passion and sorrow, into that ring and commanded it to do one last thing for me.

And the last thing I felt was relief, when an unnatural fire came roaring toward us, that the warmth and smell that encompassed and shielded me was gone.