Throw Away the Plan

Chapter 11 (Dinah's PoV)

I had heard that Kara had invited all the women from Earth-1 to a girl's night at her apartment, and I wanted to find Sara to see if she knew anything about it. I assumed she would be on the Waverider, so that's where I went first.

"Gideon," I asked upon arriving. "Is Sara here?"

"Yes, Mrs. Lance," the AI answered. "She's in the library with Director Sharpe."

"Thank you, Gideon."

I made my way to the library, expecting to see them making plans for the upcoming battle. However, the sight that greeted me was much more pleasant and brought a warm smile to my face.

My daughter and her girlfriend were stretched out on the couch together, both asleep. Sara's back was pressed against Ava's chest, and the latter's arms were wrapped tightly around the former's smaller form. The only time I could remember seeing her this comfortable and content was, if I thought about it, before the whole disaster with the Gambit.

As any good mother would, I quietly took out my phone and snapped a few pictures in order to immortalize the beautiful scene before me.

Once I was satisfied with the photograph, I chose a book from one of the shelves and sat down to read while I waited for my girls to wake up.

About seventy-five pages later, I heard a light whimpering coming from the direction of the couch where Sara and Ava laid. A quick glance in that direction showed that the source of the sound was Sara, who had begun to move around.

I immediately marked my place in the book and hurried over to the two. However, Ava awoke right as I reached their side and shooed me away.

"This happens more often than either of us would care to admit," she explained. "I've got this."

While she had been talking to me, Ava had also been gently pressing one hand to Sara's chest just below her neck while trying to shake her awake with the other.

Sara woke with a start a few moments later, and Ava and I wasted no time in gathering her up in our arms as tears began to pour down her face.

Do you wanna talk about it?" Ava whispered once she had quieted down. Sara nodded, but didn't say anything.

"I can't help you if you don't talk to me," Ava commented after a time.

Upon hearing this, a thought struck me. What if Sara was uncomfortable talking about what was bothering her because I was there with her? It would be understandable, seeing as we hadn't spoken for so long, up until about a day ago.

"I can leave if you want me to," I told them, standing.

"No, stay," Sara mumbled, removing her head from Ava's chest long enough to say the words before burying it back in place.

"Okay, then," I smiled, making myself comfortable on the far end of the couch.

Shortly thereafter Sara readjusted herself so that she was sitting upright but could still lean into Ava. She wiped her face, took a shaky breath, and began her tale.

"It was a new one this time, unlike any nightmare I've had before. I felt like I was in the demon realm, because I was aware of everything that was going on around me but had no control over it. I knew that that wasn't where I was, though, because I was on the Waverider. I was alone and couldn't find anyone else, and I was starting to get worried.

"I thought I had searched the entire ship, twice, until I remembered I hadn't checked the trash compactor room. I ran down there as fast as I could, and when I got there, the Worldkillers were holding everyone captive.

"They noticed me as soon as I arrived. One of them-Pestilence, I think- grabbed me and held me back while Reign and Purity murdered their prisoners one by one."

At this point, Sara had well-defined tear tracks all down her cheeks. Her voice was choppy, but despite this, she turned to look her girlfriend in the eyes and said; "You were the last to go."

Ava's eyes looked like they were about to overflow as she pulled Sara back into her arms. She noticed me watching them and stretched a hand out towards me, which I gladly accepted. I was surprised when she gently tugged me towards her, but I went without a struggle.

"You're her mother," she told me. "There's no reason you shouldn't be here too."

The three of us snuggled together on the couch for a good half hour, probably. I think I had almost drifted off when I heard a slightly muffled voice.

"Sara, move. I have to pee," Ava groaned.

"No can do, Mom's kinda in the way," she retorted. "Also, I don't want to. You're a very good pillow. And warm."

"You're insufferable, Ms. Lance. You know that, right?"

"Well, duh."

"I also hope you realize that the only reason I haven't shoved you off me is that I don't want to dump your mother on the floor."

I stood up and stretched. "You can push her off now."

Sara hit the floor with a thump, and Ava made a beeline for the ship's single bathroom.

Picking herself up, Sara asked; "So what did you want to talk to me about? I'm guessing that you didn't come with the intention to join in on an impromptu therapy session."

"That was an unexpected bonus," I smiled. "Anyways, I had heard that Kara's having a girl's night at her place tonight. I was wondering if you knew anything about it."

"You were wanting to know if you were invited," she guessed, quickly understanding the question behind the question. "Of course you are. The Danvers wanted me to invite everyone from Earth-1 who fit the 'female' category. Kara texted us to let us know she's inviting a friend of hers she said was trustworthy. Didn't get a name, though." She looked at something behind me. "Did you?"

"No, I didn't," Ava told her, walking in. "Gideon, what time is it, locally?"

"Seven fifteen p.m.," the AI responded.

"Oh, well, in that case, we should probably get going," Sara exclaimed. "We planned to meet at Kara's place at eight. Gideon can fabricate anything you need."

We gathered a few things for the night and stuffed them into the pillowcases of two pillows.

"We're bringing them," Ava had insisted upon protests from both Sara and I. "Because A) I don't like sleeping without my own and B) I want the others to be able to use Kara's extras."

I had been able to talk her out of bringing one for me. Sara, however, had not been as fortunate.