AH! I'm done with this story now, it seems. (sigh) It's been a blast!

And sorry in advance for the shortness and suckiness of this chappie, but I was rushing to get it done.

Oh, and review!

The Prodigal Hero Returns

The decision was made. Over, done. And that was it: Psyche-Out's eternal destiny had been decided. It had been a long night of Caitlin's constant self-wrestling, but she was done with a decision ten years in the making.

And now she was ready to inform Jessica, Olivia, Michele and Clark. The four leading experts on Psyche-Out, it would seem. Superman and only three normal people that knew his secret.

The four plotters.

She'd managed to get them all into Clark's office to give them the news, and she knew they were all anticipating the wrong answer from her, making them all fidgety. She was happy to play around with them and make them think the wrong thing of her… It was just too downright fun.

"Now," she said sternly, pacing to and fro against one wall while they all stood on the opposite side of the room, "I know the game you've all been playing. I know what you've been doing: I'm not stupid."

The fidgeting intensified as the four realized they'd been caught in the act, and all eyes quickly averted. Somehow, they all managed to find interest in the floor, ceiling, walls or some obscure speck of dirt on a chair arm. Feet shuffled on the carpet, hands gripped chair arms or knotted around each other, legs bounced back and forth and

To this, Caitlin just smiled—which none of her friends could see, as they all stared at the ground. "And that's why I have you here now. I want to tell you what I think about this whole business." She paused, and guiltily, all four of her friends raised their eyes to her face.

"Thank you!" she surprised them all. "You all pushed me back into what I should be. I see now how stupid I've been—for ten whole years, I've been so, so stupid!—and how you guys showed me what I did. Thank you!"

"You mean—?" Olivia was the first to ask.

"Psyche-Out's back!" Caitlin exclaimed.

All three of the women shrieked happily and engulfed Caitlin in hugs, while Clark hung back and just grinned brightly from ear to ear. After the shrieking and intensive hugging stopped, Caitlin rushed towards Clark and happily hugged him as well.

When she stopped her excited gasping and they parted, Caitlin quickly asked, "So, how soon can I get back into things? I mean, can I go on a patrol with you soon, oh, please say it's so!" She knew she sounded so very immature, but at the moment, she didn't care and didn't rightly mind if anyone called her childish, because that's what her glee was: childlike.

"Well, I can go ahead and bump Superman's next patrol up so we can head out within the hour…"

"Perfect!" Caitlin exclaimed. Then her face suddenly fell. "Oh, crap! I don't have a superhero costume anymore… It was out within the week I decided to give up Psyche-Out for good. Oh, that won't do!"

Clark grinned. "Oh, I have a solution to that problem. One that I think you're going to love."

Clark was right. Caitlin did love the solution.

At the moment, she walked the halls of the Justice League space station headquarters beside a fully costumed Superman. Her eager eyes hungrily took in every detail and her filing cabinet of a mind remembered every hero she passed. Physical appearance, mental state and super-power were all written into her "files."

And by the time Superman had led her into the wide council room, Caitlin had ninety seven files ready at any moment to spring up and refresh her memory.

But the council chamber made her add five more, for a current total of one hundred and two. In the room, sitting around a large, odd-shaped table, were the original members of the Justice League—except the departed Hawk Girl—and now leaders of the seriously enlarged organization.

First was the Green Lantern, sitting stiff-backed in his chair, hands folded on the tabletop before him. Next was the Martian Manhunter—or J'onn—sitting equally stiffly and silently, watching Caitlin with glowing red eyes against pale blue-green skin. Next was Wonder Woman, one of Caitlin's personal idols. She stood like Caitlin for feminine power, and could gracefully kick butt. Her blue eyes watched carefully but warmer than either the Manhunter or Lantern's. Then was the Flash. In contrast with all of the others, he lounged carelessly in his chair, elbows on the table and face resting on his hands as if terribly bored. Lastly was Batman, dark, cold and unfeeling. He sat with arms crossed over his chest, and staring harshly at Caitlin.

Superman took his seat at the table, and quickly began introductions.

"Council, meet Caitlin O'Conner, better known as Psyche-Out," he said. "She's been a dear friend of mine for eleven years, and actually pushed me into heroics. She was acting as a superhero when openly, there were none, but she… gave up heroics for a while. Recently, she has returned to our ranks, and now she wants to be part of our League."

Caitlin nodded her agreement.

"Well, as Superman may or may not have told you, Psyche-Out, we require a demonstration," Wonder Woman said. "If you'll please, show us what you can do."

Caitlin smiled. Gladly, she thought silently.

Her eyes searched the room for loose things, and quickly, they set on pens on the tabletop. Lifting herself into the air to demonstrate she could, Caitlin also levitated every one of the six pens sitting on the table. When she read that no one was impressed, she also levitated the table up right in front of them until it was ten feet over their collective heads.

But when she set everything back in its place, no one was really interested, except Clark, as always.

And that set her mouth into a grim, angered frown.

"All well and nice," Flash said distractedly, "but we don't need another levitator."

Only Caitlin's firm determination kept her frown from becoming an angered growl. "I can levitate anything within reasonable size, you know," she said through tightened teeth. "Not just pens and tables."

"Can you do anything else?" asked the Green Lantern.

"Of course," Caitlin said. Her attention turned to the Flash, at whom she was currently angry for his utter disinterest. So easily, she flicked her awareness over his—even though the skill seemed a tad rusty from disuse—and invaded his thoughts. "Oh, you're daydreaming of doughnuts and thinking about running down to the cafeteria to get one, aren't you, Bart?"

Suddenly, the Flash was sitting up straight and interested.

And Caitlin was smiling. "Yes, I can read your thoughts."

All of the superheroes nodded.

"That is a unique talent," the Martian said. His red eyes swept the table, and met nods. "And as you have Superman himself to speak for you, we hereby accept you into the Justice League."

"Welcome," each of the other members replied in turn.

Caitlin just smiled.

Olivia, Jessica and Michele all intently fixed their eyes on the TV in Michele's apartment, all undoubtedly excited. Kelsey and Lexi were there too, but both were oblivious as they watched the Metropolis News, which showed a new superhero flying with Superman over the city.

"The newest addition to the Justice League is called 'Psyche-Out' and is reportedly telepathic," the news anchorman said. "She was seen and filmed earlier flying over Metropolis with none other than Superman himself."

The camera shot shifted and showed the hero standing on the edge of a building.

Olivia smiled at the tight lavender costume accented by dark blue gloves, boots, collar, belt and mask—all provided by the Justice League. The emblem on the hero's chest was one Olivia recognized easily: a huge, entangled P-O, standing for Psyche-Out. And the long black hair that hung down the woman's back was also recognizable to Psyche-Out's best friend.

"Welcome back, Psyche-Out!" Jessica exclaimed.

And welcome back Caitlin O'Conner, Olivia thought, smiling silently. We've missed you.

THE END