Alison's POV

I huff as I readjust the position I'm lay out in in the backseat for the millionth time since we've been back on the road. Why am I the one stuck back here again? My heels have hit the window so many times I think Dick's afraid I'm gonna shatter it.

"According to those files, the man who came after you may have been part of some doomsday cult," Dick's informing voice snaps me out of my inner-complaining.

"You pissed off a cult? That's a pretty badass," I pipe up.

Dick gives me his 'not helping' look through the rearview-mirror before continuing, "They apparently believe it's their destiny to prevent the end of the world. Does that mean anything to you?" I swear if she doesn't answer the damn question-

Rachel takes a pause, seeming to be in deep-thought, "Well, back when I was a kid, you didn't get too angry or too scared. Cause bad things happen." Damn, I didn't need to relate to anything this early in the day.

"What kind of bad things?" Dick questions.

She turns to look out the window to avoid his look of concern. "I guess I'm an orphan too, now," She says, glancing at both of us.

Well this took a fun turn. Dick exhales through his nose and I sit up since we're getting serious now.

Rachel smiles softly to herself, "That billionaire, Bruce Wayne, he raised the both of you?"

"Yeah," Dick's face stays neutral. Wonder how long it'll take him to crack.

"Yep," I pop the p smirking, folding my hands behind my head. This should be good.

"Together?"

"Not at first," Dick forces out as his face contorts a little. Ah, there it is.

"I blessed them with my presence a couple years after he got there," I entertain.

"Must've been cool," Rachel says, eagerly waiting for more. I let Dick go first.

Dick raises his eyebrows, "It was- complicated," He struggles to find the right way to put it.

"It was... quite interesting," I stay vague. That's one way of putting it.

She notices Dick's discomfort. "Does it ever go away?" Rachel shifts the subject, catching on that we're not going to say anymore.

"What?" Dick doesn't understand what she's asking, but I get it. She wants to know if you ever feel like you weren't abandoned.

"The feeling you got left behind," She confirms. Heh, I don't miss.

Dick hesitates, "Yeah."

"Liar," I say through purposely clearing my throat.

Dick sighs, "Well, no, not entirely."

"You're gonna leave me too, aren't you," Her voice quivers. I roll my eyes, here we go.

Dick furrows his brows, "No," then turns to her, "No, I'm not gonna do that." She sighs in relief.

"I never planned on staying." I shoot it to her straight. She tenses up, but keeps to herself after that. I look out the window as we drive in silence. I can't believe we 're actually going to see Hank and Dawn... after how we left it last time- and after how I blew them off after that...

~~~~

Washington

District of Columbia

I guess I must've dozed off because I'm woken up by a tap on my knee, "Dick told me to wake you," Rachel speaks softly.

"Great," I purse my lips. I open my eyes just as Dick is parking in front of a small apartment building.

As we walk in to find their place I clench my fingers in and out of a fist. I can do this. It's just a short visit, then we're outta here.

"Hey, are you okay?" Rachel asks me. Before I can respond she reaches for my hand, taking a sharp breath immediately after contact.

3rd Person POV

When Rachel touches Alison's hand she's taken to what looks to be a dark bedroom. Rachel hears quiet music she see's is coming from a record player and steps forward to find Alison laying flat on her back on the hard wood floor, just staring at the ceiling.

Rachel crouches down beside her to get a closer look, but quickly grimaces and almost wish she hadn't. Alison looked so... dead. She was a couple shades paler, had big dark bruises underneath her void-filled eyes, and bloody, skin-torn knuckles. Before Rachel can notice anything else someone knocks on the door that's already opened.

"Ali?" A melodic voice calls out.

"Maybe she's not in here," A male voice speaks.

Rachel turns to see two people standing in the door way.

"Alfred said she hasn't left her room for a couple weeks now, not even at night," The female retorts.

"Well then I'm going in," The guy impatiently walks in, the girl in tow. As they approach Rachel, actually Alison, the first thing Rachel notices is abnormally bright white hair. They come across Alison same as she did. "Do you think she's dead?" The guy whispers.

The bright haired woman rolls her eyes, "No Hank, she's not dead." She turns to him, shaking her head at his stupidity. "Her eyes are open and she's breathing... I think." Alison sits up creepily slow, startling Rachel. The pair quickly turn back to Alison. "Hi," The woman's voice comes out even softer than before.

"What are you two doing here?" Alison sounds very hoarse, "Thought you two couldn't run away fast enough," Her tone stoic.

"Alfred was worried about you. He thought you could use some company," The woman explains.

"And why would I want it to be you two?" Alison starts laughing, "You both left. Just like he did. What you're all best at."

The vision ends and Rachel yanks her hand away. She looks up to an annoyed Alison, who has no idea what just happened. "Sorry," Rachel swallows.

"Everything okay?" Dick turns around, only just noticing both girls stopped.

"Mhmm," Rachel nods.

"Let's just get this over with," Alison says sharply, shoulder checking Dick as she goes ahead of them.

"So who are these guys?" Rachel inquires as they all three approach a door.

"Old friends," Is all Dick says.

Alison scoffs, "Yeahhh, friends."

"Truth is we, I, haven't seen them for a long time," Dick corrects himself, remembering what Alison told him last night, before knocking. Alison taps her boot-heel loudly as they wait.

A few seconds later, a woman around Dick and Alison's age answers the door. But not just any woman, the same white haired one in Rachel's vision, Alison's memory. Rachel looks at her in shock.

"Hey," Dick gives her a tight-lipped smile.

"Long time no see," Alison shoots her a fake smile.

The woman takes a moment to let what's in front of her sink in. "Hi," She finally lets out.

Rachel cuts in, sticking her hand out, "Hi, I'm Rachel." Causing the woman to finally notice that Dick and Alison have a young teenager with them.

"Dawn," She introduces herself, returning Rachel's gesture. As their hands meet Rachel freezes as she gets flashes.

The first one is of Alison and Dick laying in bed kissing when Dawn walks in, "Well aren't you two lovebirds cute," She laughs.

"Dawnnn, fuck off," Alison groans, throwing a pillow at Dawn while Dick pulls her further into him, chuckling hard in amusement.

Then the second one is of Dawn standing in the same bedroom Rachel saw a few minutes ago, looking worried at a wasted Alison in a tight dress with a big glass bottle.

"Why don't you and Hank just run back to where ever you came from!" Alison yells, waving her arms around, spilling some of the liquid from the bottle.

"No, we came here to help you! Not for you to do complete a 360° and run off to a nightclub," Dawn sternly rebuttals. "You're clearly hurting."

"I'm not hurting, I TOLD YOU I'M FINE!" Alison screams and throws the bottle at the wall behind Dawn causing her to flinch as wine seeps down it.

"We'll talk when you're sober," Dawn concludes, heading for the door.

Alison laughs, stumbling across the room to her bed. "Oh Dawn, when will you learn not everybody wants to be fixed by you." And with that she picks up the record player that's resting on her pillow and throws it at the door causing Dawn to gasp and duck as millions of pieces fly everywhere.

"What the fuck?" Dawn whips around stunned.

Alison lets out a low chuckle. "I don't need you. Or Hank. Or anyone for that matter. So why don't you mind your own fucking business and get the fuck out of my house."

Dawn exhales, "You're going down a dark and lonely path Alison, that eventually even you can't turn back from. You need somebody. If it's not gonna be me or Hank, or even Bruce or Alfred, fine. But one day you may finally realize you need someone to talk to. We'll be in Washington if that day ever comes." A tear runs down Dawns cheek as she finishes. She opens the door, pushing record pieces out of the way as she does. "And I'm sorry that we left it the way we did." She leaves it at that, shutting the door behind her.