Got Your Back, Always

I.V

Dick knocks on Rachel's door. He walks in and sits on her bed next to Cassie and sighs.

"I'm sorry. It's getting worse." Rachel fidgets with her sleeves.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for, Rachel. I'm the one who should... " There's knocking at the door again.

Dawn leaned against the doorframe, "How are you doing, sweetheart? Hank is sorry. He can be a real asshole sometimes. We gotta go. Hank and I have that thing." Dawn looked over to Dick and Cassie.

Dick stood up, "Dawn, I really think you should reconsider. Okay? We both know it's too dangerous."

"You win some, you lose some." Dawn walks over to Rachel, "Take care of him, okay? He needs all the help he can get." Cassie holds her hand out to Dawn who gives her a small nod, taking the small object the two would need in order to complete their mission.

Rachel smiles, "Okay."

Dawn leaves and Hank and her leave.

Rachel looks to Dick, "She needs your help. I can feel it. Isn't that what you do?"

"What?"

"You help people."

Dick chuckles, "I used to think so." He sits down, avoiding Cassie's gaze. "I used to think it was one of the things I was best at. Until I realized the more help some needed the worse I had to hurt the others. Do you understand?"

Rachel sits forward, "Sometimes when I feel the darkness come out... it feels good."

"I understand."

"You want to help them. You're just scared. Sometimes there's just no time to be scared."

"Go, help them. I've got her," Cassie looked at Dick.

Dick leaves to go help Hawk and Dove.

Back at the apartment, Rachel finds the note Dick left with the money. She gets upset and starts to cry.

"Rachel? What is it?" Cassie goes over to the girl when she notices her crying.

Rachel says angrily, "Did you know?"

"Know what?" Rachel hands her the note, and Cassie reads it, looking at the money, "Oh Rachel, no I had no idea. He... he had been avoiding me the past day and I couldn't figure out why, but this... this is why. I'm so sorry Rachel. If I had known I would have given him an earful about it. I promise you I'm not leaving you, ok? I will always be right here."

Rachel looked at the taller girl with tears in her eyes, knowing she was telling the truth. Cassie enveloped her and gave her the hug Rachel needed.

"Come on, let's go to the roof so you can get some air." Rachel nods and that's where the two stay, in silence. Cassie gives Rachel space she needs but stays close enough to know that she wasn't alone.

The other three get back to the apartment and quickly realize Cassie nor Rachel are there.

On the roof Rachel is looking at the birds when Dick finds them, Cassie isn't too far, just sitting on a bench.

Dick calls down to the others, "They're up here. Hey, what are you doing up here? I was worried. Rach. What's wrong?"

Rachel holds the note and the money in her hands, "You were gonna leave me here. You said you weren't but you lied. You must lie a lot. You're good at it."