Homecoming (Complete)

Chapter Thirty-Four

"Dinah. You're drooling."

"N'mnot," Dinah mumbled. She rolled her head to the side and wiped her cheek without opening her eyes.

"My hand is soggy so I think maybe you are."

"Mnot," she mumbled again. "Wait...," Dinah's eyes flew open as she sat up. "Alex!"

"Shhhh," Alex whispered. "Diana is still sleeping. Don't wake her."

"But she'll want to know you're awake!" Dinah whispered. "You're awake!" She dove in to hug Alex. "Oh my god! You're awake! You're alive!" She grinned. "Don't you ever die on me again!"

"I'll do my best," Alex laughed. "How long have I been here?"

"About two days, give or take a few hours," Dinah said. "You really should let me wake the others. They're going to be pissed that they missed you waking up." She looked around. "Okay. Diana is here but I don't know where Babs went. Still, you should let me wake up Diana."

"I've just been sitting here enjoying having you all around," Alex said sheepishly. "I can't remember the last time everything was so peaceful. I'm sorry I woke you," she giggled, "but you really were drooling on my hand! How long was I gone?"

"A month," Dinah said. "Well...I guess longer than that. You had Bruce fly you to wherever he took you, and then a week later you were gone. So I guess about five weeks. Do you remember anything?"

"No. Not much after Bruce dropped me off," Alex made a face. "Is David still here?"

"Yes, Alex Read, Alexis Andrea Damian, Riley...," David started to list all her names quietly from the corner.

"Shhh!" Alex whispered. "Just Alex, remember? I tried to explain that to you, but I don't think I was making much sense at the time."

"Ah, yes. One name. Bruce told me that. You told me that. Didn't know that is what you meant," David walked over to the side of the bed. "You were broken. You thought in many languages. I didn't know there were many languages. I couldn't communicate. It took time. But now it is okay. Is it okay?" He cocked his head.

"Yes," Alex smiled at him. "It's okay. You brought me home, David. Thank you."

"Alex?" Diana sat up in her chair groggily. "Alex! You're awake!" She stood up and leaned over the bed to look into Alex's eyes, tears in her own. "Alex...," she breathed softly as if Alex might suddenly vanish. She touched Alex's cheek gently and shook her head in wonder. "I was afraid to hope. I was afraid I would wake up to find that it had been a cruel dream."

"Diana...," Alex struggled to swallow the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry..."

"Shhh," Diana said. "You have nothing to be sorry for. None of this was your fault."

"Hey!" Babs called from the doorway. "No fair waking up while I was out grabbing coffee for everyone." She set the tray of coffees down on a table and walked quickly to the bed. "Alex!"

"That is my name," Alex laughed. "David? Is there a way to sit me up a bit more? I can barely see over the ends of my toes, and I'm afraid I don't have the strength to sit up on my own. I'm not sure I even have the strength to lift my arm right now."

"Oh! Yes! Button!" David said, pointing to the head of the bed. "Not! Not! Not!" He yelled as Diana pushed a button. There was a slight hum and suddenly Diana, Babs, and Dinah all found themselves lying on the floor. David ran around the side of the table and pushed the button Diana had just pushed. "Sorry! Sorry! Not! Other. This one." He pushed a button beside the first and Alex was slowly raised into a sitting position.