Bluejay: The Protégé of Black Canary

Chapter 71

Ik it's been like a fat minute since I've updated but this has literally been the worst year of my life so my will to write sorta went *flush.* But here's part of the ending. I'm planning on at least another chapter or so? Anyways also here's Dick's POV because this made it fun to write again.

Dick Grayson lay still on the med table, his breathing shallow as he counted silently. He and his girl lay tangled in each others limbs, her wrist in his hand, their skin tacky from sea water. The monitor next to them beeped in the steady rhythm of Jackie's heartbeat, but Dick trusted his own mind more. He could feel the gentle pulse beneath his fingers, the exhale of breath on his ear. If only she knew how terrified he was that it was going to stop.

Dick remembered the moment he awoke, the painful sensation of water spurting from his lungs as he regained consciousness. He assumed he'd merely blacked out, but Kaldur confirmed later; Dick had been dead.

But the news never have time to sink. After all, it happened so fast.

Jackie had thrown her arms around him, and there had been a moment of pure bliss- the knowledge that they were both alive. He had buried his face in her neck, clutching her body close, his body trembling. But he didn't know if the shaking was from revival, or gratitude.

But moments later, Jackie's body had fallen limp. Dick noticed, pulling away to see how her brown eyes turned glassy and unfocused, her breathing shallow. Dick pushed the sticky strands of hair away from her face. He lightly shook her. No response. He pressed his fingers into her neck: her pulse was steadily decreasing.

Alarmed, he frantically checked her for wounds, but he could see no blood. But there was no doubt that something was wrong with her. It was only after Kaldur told him that Jackie had been the one to find oxygen using her metapowers- a sensitivity he couldn't even have imagined she could possess- that he realized she over exhorted herself. Jackie needed medical attention fast.

He gathered her in his arms, his legs trembling from the effort, the pain from his broken rib turning the edges of his vision fuzzy. But he refused to waver. He surged towards the water tight door, demanding Kaldur open it so they could go back to the Bioship. The Team leader tried to pull the girl from Dick's grasp, insisting he was too injured to carry her.

But Dick refused angrily, clutching to Jackie's limp body close to his chest. He could do it. He was strong enough. He would always be strong enough for Jackie. And perhaps... he feared if he let go, Jackie would be lost forever.

Kaldur got the door open, his tattoos glowing as he forced the sea water away from them to create an air pocket. But it wasn't long before the rest of the Team arrived to help, encased in one of Rocket's inertia bubbles. Based on Robin's hobbling stance, the blood, and the glassy-eyed girl, their friends understood instantly- something was very wrong. Rocket had gasped, believing Jackie was dead.

Not yet she wasn't. Not if Dick had anything to say about it.

Although beaten, Dick shouted orders, his strained lungs aching. And even though Aqualad was the Team Leader, they obeyed. Using their collective abilities, they rushed their injured teammates back to the Bioship and down into the Med bay, where an unconscious M'gann was already occupying one of the beds.

The Bioship, sensing the distress within the cabin, molded two additional tables from the flooring. With careful, delicate moments, Dick laid Jackie on the nearest table. His hands were trembling.

"Wally, grab the oxygen tank. Kaldur, the IV." Dick ordered, while he himself went to get the Holter monitors.

Zatana tried to catch his arm and lead him to another bed.