Gryphon (Completed)

Chapter 12: Mentally Fit

~~~~Maxine's POV~~~~

I don't know how much longer I can go without falling to my knees,and clutching my head in pain. I'm holding Dick's hand as we walk through the country side to get to Logan's plane. The rest of the team is scattered around us, everyone except Leah, and... Ethan. The name hurts me just to think about it, I still can't believe I killed someone. It tears me up inside that I would ever even consider it.

"Nightwing, I... I'm sorry."

"For what?" I look down.

"For what happened back there, I... lost control of my anger..." He pulls me into a hug and I hug him back tightly.

"Maxine, I love you, and nothing will ever change that." I feel tears threaten to spill and I kiss him. It happens fast, but lasts so long.

"Come on lovebirds, we're almost there." Logan calls back and we run ahead to catch up, the adrenaline still flowing through my veins.

The plane is barely large enough to hold all of us, but it's better than the one we came in. We climb in and it's crowded, but everyone is able to sit, it doesn't matter if it's on the ground. We're all too tired and hungry to do anything but rest, no one talks and no one moves, except for Logan, who's driving the jet. Silence is broken, Dick comes over to me and puts his arms around my shoulders.

"Maxine, something happened back in the forest, what's wrong?" I frown at his question and lift my head.

"I... I'm not sure... even if something did happen, I'm completely fine." His brow furrows and I can tell he doesn't believe me, I don't want them to think I'm crazy, because I'm not, I'm completely sane and nothing can change that... I think.

"I don't think that's the case Maxi, when we get back to America, Professor Xavier can help you, but if you don't want to talk to me, you don't have to." He truly cares, I think that I should tell him.

"When we were in the forest, I was shocked, I felt like reality had been shattered and that's when I saw Ethan," I start to breath heavily and continue, "I thought he was dead, I... I had killed him, but Sabertooth appeared and told me that I was just like him, I couldn't handle it."

"Did you see Joker?" I nod and pull my knees to my chest, my eyes hurt from trying to hold back tears, I really am breaking. I feel Dick get even closer and wrap his arms around me, I lay my head on his chest and fall asleep quickly.

I'm dreaming, but it feels so real, Dick is holding me and we're at Mt Justice. A blur speeds into the room and Wally stands there, laughing his head off.

"Get back here Wally!" An angry Artemis yells and I smirk, just like old times. She runs into the room and chases after the yellow speedster. I feel Dick chuckle and I get closer to him, but something around my neck stops me. I'm pulled backwards and I feel a rope rubbing and tightening, cutting off my air. I try to cut it off with my claws, but only cause the noose to constrict my airway. I let out a silent scream and feel something jerk my shoulders, my eyes flutter and Dick's holding me still, although we're on an airplane.

"Dick, I... I thought that... I thought I was dead, the rope was so tight, what happened?" I give him no time to answer, "Where's Wally and... and Artemis, they were just here, why aren't we at the base?"

"You were dreaming, we're still in your dimension, and there's no rope." I look up at his eyes, almost hidden by his mask, they are blue, and alive.

"I was suffocating, the rope was killing me, I couldn't breathe, and it reminded me of... of my death." The pain hits me, I didn't think I could have gotten it out without choking on my own words, but I did.

"I'm not going to let that happen again, I should've gone with you in the first place, I shouldn't have left you alone in that position." He thinks he was the reason why I died, but he wasn't, he shouldn't blame himself.

"I'm so sorry, I put you through that, it was never your fault." His hand brushes through my hair and I hug him, my head resting next to his.

A strange feeling in my stomach tells me we're no longer in the air. I look around and see everyone stirring from their much needed rest, with bags underneath their eyes and heavy limbs, they get up and leave the plane. Following them, Dick and I step off the threshold and into the same cave that I had come to the first day. Professor Xavier is standing next to Logan and they're in the middle of a conversation.

"... the girl needs help Chuck... I don't think she's ok." The Professor nods his head and turns toward me.

"Maxine, do you mind coming with me, I would like to speak with you." I squeeze Dick's hand and follow the Professor.

"I heard Logan talking to you about me, and I know I'm not ok, but I really am."

"I'm going to take a look inside your mind and see what's happened, ok?"
I shake my head yes slowly and open my weak mental barriers.

"Now I just need you to sit down and relax," His voice almost fades away and I close my eyes to see all the scenes fly by and it hurts so much. I go to grab my head to find I can't move my arms outside of my body, they're being held down by a telekinetic who we had rescued earlier. I try to tell them I'm fine but my words echo back to me.

"Professor, what's happening?" I'm trapped in my own mind and I can't do anything.

"Don't worry, Maxine, you'll be ok, just don't move, you almost hurt yourself."

"H-how, I didn't do anything, it was just my head..."

"Please, just stay still." My mind goes dark, but after a couple of moments, I start having dreams, where all the things that had happened, no matter how deep they had hit, started to heal.

"I guess this is how Logan feels every time he is healed, ja?"

"I do believe so Maxine, I'm going to bring you around, alright?"

"Ok, I'm ready." I can feel my fingertips again and my feet, everything starts to wake up until I can open my eyes.

"How are you feeling, Maxi?" A concerned voice asks and Dick goes to help me up.

"I... I feel alive, my heart is no longer heavy, I'm alive!" I say excitedly and jump into his arms, we embrace and happy tears fall.

My broken mind was mended.