Cosmic Strings || Ray Palmer

Left Behind Part One (M)

They had left her behind. They had left them behind. All of them had piled onto the ship, ready to go, not a care in the world, and they had just...left.

She tried to ignore the wetness dripping down her cheeks. The numbness she felt at thought of living another hundred years alone. The idea that she would have to watch her friends grow old and die together, while she lived on. Alone.

Ray's frantic words were like cotton in her ears, "We just have to stay calm." He told everyone, "Wherever they time-jumped-- whenever-- they'll come back to this exact same moment."

She wanted to believe him. She really did.

Ten Minutes Later

She was right. They weren't coming back. Ray was wrong this time. Alex leaned against the tree, knowing the only thing she could do now was move on, and try to help the others move on as well.

"They're not coming back." Sara reached out to Ray, all hope gone from her face, "Let's go."

Ray stammered, disbelief clouding his face as he tried to rationalize the situation, "Look, as a former Eagle Scout with over 100 merit badges, no big deal," He subtly bragged and Alex couldn't tell if it was for Kendra or not, "the first rule of getting lost is stay the same place." he spoke with such confidence, such faith, she almost believed him. "That way, you can be found."

Sara moved to confront him, "And as a former member of the League of Assassins," she name-dropped, "the first rule when you've been attacked is to keep moving."

To Alex's surprise, Kendra actually took Sara's side, "I sort of think League wisdom trumps the Eagle Scouts here." She announced, "Plus, Savage is still out there."

Ray shook his head, wanting to believe that the team would rescue them. Alex knew what that was like. To have hope that someone will come back when you knew they weren't.

"Guys, the rest of the team would not leave us marooned in 1958." Ray continued to push, holding onto whatever hope he had left of being rescued, "Alex back me up on this, you know they're coming back," He pleaded, turning to her for support. He'd always found it in her. But not this time.

"I'm sorry Ray," She whispered, "But Sara and Kendra are right. When people leave, they leave for good."

Ray's body slumped in defeat.

Ten Hours Later

Alex wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing them in order to try and keep herself semi-warm as she watched Sara hotwire the car they needed.

"One good thing about 1958," Sara spoke through gritted teeth, trying to hide the hurt she felt, "no car alarms."

Alex chuckled at her joke, trying to cheer up the mood.

Kendra peered closer at Sara's handiwork, "I didn't think they had cars in Nanda Parbat."

Sara smirked at the observation, "Dated a lot of delinquents as a teenager."

"Let me guess," Alex teased, trying to lighten things up, "Was one of those delinquents Oliver Queen?"

The engine turned over, starting the car and offering the group a chance at freedom. Sara stood up, a twinkle in her eye as she answered Alex's question, "Maybe."

Ray shook his head, eyes wide in worry, "And now we're the delinquents." He pointed out and Alex resisted the urge to refute his optimism, "If we leave Harmony Falls, how's the rest of the team gonna find us?"

Sara turned to face their hopeful friend, shoulders slumped, "We don't know if they're looking for us." She spoke up, saying what everyone had been thinking. And Alex couldn't help but agree. If they were looking for them they should've arrived back at the parking spot, "But we know Savage and his sidekick are," Sara reminded them, and Alex grew sober at the thought of Mandy. She was long gone at this point. "We can't take him. That means we can't stay here."