Starting Over

Starting Over

It had been five years since the world government's passed the Meta-Human Control Act, which placed severe limitations on the use of meta-human abilities.  Official super groups for global protection - such as the Justice League - continues to function, but lesser groups - such as the Doom Patrol and the Teen Titans - were officially disbanded, and these so called Super Heroes were forbidden from utilizing their powers except under the direct managment under the world government or through joining the Justice League.

Many of the Teen Titans had sought to join the League, to continue their work.  Unfortunately, many of them didn't meet the League's rather demanding standards, and none of them were willing to work the way the government wanted them to.  And so, the young heroes were forced to do the hardest thing in their lives - become ordinary people.

Some were succesful.  Others weren't.  For some...it was surprisingly easy to find somewhere to belong.

"Miss Woth?" the 6 year old asked her teacher.  "I have to go to the bathwoom."

Her teacher smiled at her.  "Alright, Milly.  I'll take you.  Everyone, I expect you to behave until I get back...and I'll know if you don't."  Taking the little girl's hand, she led her down the hall to the bathroom.  Once finished, she led her back.  The students were sitting quietly.  "Now who are my good boys and girls?" she asked with a smile.

The kids smiled excitedly.  "Alright," she said, eading for the cupboard.  "It's time for animal games."  Reaching up, she beckoned.  "It's allright, you can come down."

A large black cat hopped gently onto her shoulders, and curled around ehr neck.  CHuckling, she lifted the tom off of her and set him on the floor, where sniffed disdainfully and proceeded to stroll around the classroom.

The teacher continued the class.  Finally, the day came to an end.

As the students slowly filled out, she placed a hand on one of the young boy's shoulders.  "Everything okay at home, Tommy?"

He nodded.  "Yeth, Miss Woth," he said, his lisp noticable.  "Everythingth fine."

"Your Dad behaving himself?"

The boy nodded.  "Thtill thcreamth at night, though."

She smiled.  "I'm sure that will go away when he learns his lesson."

The boy left with a smile.  Only a little girl was left.  "Mary, it's time to go home."

"I don't wanna!" the little girl said, hiding tears.

"Why not?"  Her teacher was shocked.  "I thought you loved it at home, and won't Parsnip be missing you?"

"He's sick," Mary cried.  "And I have to take him to the vet, and...and sometimes dogs don't come back from the vet, Uncle says..."

Her teacher's brows narrowed, and she began to think of several things - none flattering - about people who terrorized children with needless nightmares.  There were enough needful ones out there as is.  She smiled.  "Would you like me to go with you when you take Parsnip to the vet?"

Mary looked up smiling.  "You would?"  Her teacher nodded.  "Thank you!" Mary shouted, hugging her teacher.

Her teacher smiled.  "Okay, why don't you head home, and I'll meet you there in a half an hour?  I've got a few things to take care of."  She knew Mary's mother was a working single mom, so and Mary had a little brother who needed watching, which had pushed Mary to be far more independent than others in her age group.

As Mary left, she gathered up her things and closed the classroom.

"You really are something else, you know that, Rachel?"

Rachel turned and glowered.  "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Miss Roth before you get the hint, Eric?" she asked the 3rd grade teacher.

Eric smiled disarmingly.  "Come on, Rachel.  You don't have to be so cold.  I just want to help you feel more...at home."

Rachel glowered at him.  "How many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested before you get the hint?"

"Come on," he said ingratiatingly.  "You know how the game is played as well as I."  He placed a hand companionably on her shoulder.

She snarled.  "Remove your hand or I will relieve you of it."

"Now see here-" he pulled his hand back.

"If you ever speak to me again in any manner but professionaly, I will file a sexual harrasment claim with the Dean.  I have more than enough evidence AND witnesses to make it stick!"  Leaving Eric staring after her, she stormed out of the school.  She was the only one who noticed the light fixtures shaking slightly at her passage.

Walking through the cool afternoon air, she let her anger dissipate.  "I can't believe I lost my cool like that...something about him just gets under my skin, though."  She reached Mary's house and rang the bell.

"Yes?" Mrs. Scarming answered the door.  "Oh, Miss Roth!  Is there a problem?"

"No problem, Mrs. Scarming.  I just promised Mary I'd go with her when she took Parsnip to the vet."

"Oh, thank you!  She's around back with him now.  I'd go with, but-"  She glanced around nervously.

"It's alright.  I fully understand."  Smiling, Rachel went around back.

When he saw her, the Doberman/German Sheperd mix called Parsnip got to his feet and galumphed over to her, tail wagging like crazy.  "Hey, Parsnip," she said, scratching him behind the ears.  "Let's go," she said, grabbing the leash.  She took Mary's hand in her other hand walking with her to the vet's office.  "So which vet do we take him to?" she asked.

"The new one.  He just moved into town last week."  Mary smiled.  "Mom thinks he's cute!"

Rachel rolled her eyes.  "Well, show me where his office is."

"That one," Mary pointed.  "The one with all the animals on the walls."

Rachel's eyes widened in shock.  Mary wasn't talking about wallpaper or decorations.  The walls were alive with animals of all sorts crawling, climbing, or flying in and out through the back door and windows.  "Who is this guy, Dr. Dolittle?" she asked, somewhat shocked.

She walked Mary in through the front door with Parsnip.  A young man with dirty blond hair and smiling blue eyes wearing a lab coat looked down with a smile.  "So this is Parsnip!" he said happily.  He knelt down and started scratching the dog between the ears.  "Let's see what's wrong with you, shall we, buddy?"  He looked up at Rachel.  "She yours?" he asked, jerking his head towards Mary.

Rachel smiled.  "She's my student."

Mary looked up at the vet.  "YOu can help Parsnip, can't you, Dr. Logan?"

Rachel's eyes widened.  That name...

Dr. Logan smiled.  "No problem.  It looks like it's just a bit of arthritis making him favor the leg.  Don't worry, he's got many more years left."

"How'd you tell that quick?" Rachel asked with an eyebrow raised.

The vet smiled, and lifted up the limb in question.  "See here?  Slight swelling around the joint, slight inflamation.  The only symptom is pain, causing the limp.  And there isn't anything else bothering him."  Dr. Logan led them all into his office and sat down at his desk, pulling out a pad of paper and scribbling out a note.

Rachel glanced around at the office.  It was pretty well organized.  Mary suddenly spoke up.  "Who's that?"

She was pointing at a picture on the desk.  It showed a teenage girl with pale skin, and purple hair and eyes.

Dr. Logan smiled at the picture.  "An old friend I haven't heard from in a very long time."  He handed Mary the note.  "Give this to your Mom.  It's a medical rub that you should rub into the affected joint once every three days.  It's holistic medicine, but I know for a fact it will work."

"Thanks, Doctor!" Mary said happily.

Rachel leaned down.  "Mary, can you get home on your own?  I'd like to talk to Doctor Logan for a bit if he's not busy."

"Okay!  Come on Parsnip!"  Mary and Parsnip left happily.

As Rachel closed the door, Dr. Logan spoke up.  "It's been a long time, Raven.  Tea?"

She turned back as he poured a cup of tea she recognized as her preferred blend.  "How'd you know it was me...Beast Boy?"

He smiled and tapped his nose.  "Lavender," he said simply.  "And could you call me Garfield?  Beast Boy...doesn't exist anymore."

"Neither does Raven," Rachel said, sitting down at the desk across from him.  As he handed her the tea, she sipped at it.  "You've gotten better at making this," she said, pleased.

"Needed something to help me remember you."

They sat together for a time, just looking at each other.  Finally, he spoke up.  "Everyone else has managed to find a place for themself, too, you know."

"Really?  How are they doing?"

"Well...Richard Greyson has returned to being heir to the Wayne Enterprises fortune...and is dating a rather wealthy fashion model by the name of Kori Anders."

"So they finally got together officially?" Rachel asked with a smile.  "And how come Star went civilian?  Technically, she's the Tamaranean ambassador to Earth."

"She considers Earth her home.  She wanted to be a part of it.  ...Victor's making his way with his inventions.  He tinkers all day."

"That sounds like him.  And you're a vet?"

"Yeah.  And you're a kindergarten teacher.  Victor owes me a thousand bucks."

"Eh?"

"We all had our own thoughts about where we'd find you.  Victor thought you'd be working somewhere with books and no people.  I bet him $1000 you'd be working with children."

"You've...been looking for me?"

"Rachel...when the team broke up, you just disappeared without a trace!"

"Without the team...what was I supposed to do?  We wouldn't have stayed together for long...Everyone's gone there own way, after all."

"But we keep in touch.  We're still friends, aren't we?"

"Why would anyone want to spend time with me?  You remember-"

He placed a finger against her lips, silencing her.  "Rae...I never needed an excuse to spend time with you.  Just having you near was enough to make me happy.  I've been a registered vet for three years...but this is the first time I've gottn my own office, because this is the first place since the tower that's felt like hoime to me."

"Why?"

"...because you're here."  He sat back in his chair, sipping his tea.  "It's been a long time, I know, and we've both changed a great deal...but...do you think, maybe, we could...pick up where we left off, and...see what happens?"  He looked at her, his eyes filled with hope and love.

She thought for a long time, then smiled at him.  "I'd like that."

They sat there, smiling at each other, sipping tea.