A Past Lifetime Ago 
by Jubilee (jubilee@ipoline.com)

***

She hates this. She hates waiting. Not being able to do anything. They're all 
out there while she's in here. In the Clocktower... Waiting. For news. Any 
news at all. 

The comlinks are all down. Usually she wouldn't feel this defenseless... 

Usually she wouldn't feel so frustrated but not today. Today, she feels 
hopeless. 

Babs can only wait now till Dick or Bruce comes back with news... She slowly 
takes off her glasses and leans back against her wheelchair. How is it 
possible that after so many years that she can still feel like this? As if 
she is still missing a part of her life. 

She closes her eyes and thinks back to the days that she was Batgirl. 
Soaring... Flying... Dreaming... Everything seemed so simple then. The wind 
brushing against her face. The smell of the chimney stacks. The feeling of 
adrenaline coursing through your body as you leap off a skyscraper. She loved 
being Batgirl. She loves being Oracle now.... Still... There're these 
feelings. 

Feelings of sadness. Whenever she bathes and realizes she can't feel the 
water with her feet first. Whenever she passes the beach and remembers the 
feeling of sand between her toes. Whenever Dick lies his head on her legs for 
comfort and she can't feel his breath upon her skin. 

She remembers and misses. Babs sighs as she sits back up and puts on her 
glasses back on. There is work to be done. Gotham City has a new Batgirl now 
but what it really needs is the Oracle - her.