Disclaimer: I do not own any of the superheroes or monsters portrayed in this fanfic. DC Comics and the Cthulhu Mythos writers do.

A/N: This story is not connected to any canon event. I hope this explains any conflict with actual DC events and rules.

The Batman out of time

Chapter I

-Justice League journal ****-

Even I have times when I cannot differentiate between fantasy and reality. I usually get over them rather fast, but still, I have times like that. Some of my associates and rivals think I'm grafting traces of insanity off of the guys I fight on a regular basis. I prefer to think of it as thinking like they do, in order to stop them sooner.

Others say I cause more insanity wherever I go, with me frightening people to death. It's hard to agree with them, because I take careful measures to ensure I only strike fear into the hearts of criminals. That my symbol means fear for the wicked, and hope for the innocent.

I operate off of fear. Use it for the cause of Justice. I've fought those who use it for the cause of suffering and greed. Both me and them use it as a weapon. Given my experience with them, I like to think of myself as immune to fear.

But, back to the point, I may be proven wrong soon.

In all seriousness, what do you do when you lose a week of memory? It gets even more serious as you have disturbingly real dreams, that seem to take place in that period. Do you turn yourself in to an insane asylum? I, for one, will not. Do you live with it until, overcome with fright at what humanity is to the rest of time and space, commit suicide? I will not.

I'll find a way. I always have. I always will. How do I know this, you ask?

I'm the Batman.

It all started when I was fighting the Man-Bat about a month ago. Here's the Batcomputer entry on the matter.

-Bat-Log ******-

What Up, Justice Bloggers? It's me, Robin. Y'know, Batman's partner?

Sorry Batman couldn't post today, because he's a little comatose at the moment.

You see, earlier today he was fighting the Man-Bat... (Dr. Kirk Langstrom, who's attempt to cure his deafness turned him into a gigantic rampaging bat.) Apparently, the new radio tower malfunctioned, releasing a sub-sonic signal that reacted with Dr. Langstrom, forcing a remission into his Man-Bat form. He had toppled the tower already, but he didn't change back, so he started trying to kidnap and... do something else to everyone who got too close. (maybe he was going to eat them? In hindsight, it was a good thing we didn't find out.)

Anyway, we managed to track him down by his unique echolocation frequency (meaning he sounded a lot different than most bats.) and found him hiding out in the Gotham University abandoned bell tower.

(Batman had a little trouble staying focused as he flew the Batcopter. Should have concerned me more.)

Man-Bat had a ton of hostages cornered, and since he couldn't speak, he wasn't up for negotiations. So Batman jumped in, just as the big guy was about to take a bite out of some officer. Bats threw a batarang at Man-Bat's jaw, making him pull his head back away from the hostage as his teeth suddenly became sore. Enter me, as I undo the captives' bonds, and while Batman pounds on the Man-Bat, I escort the guys to safety.

Just as a few guys are heading down the stairs, however, MB flaps his wings, and dives straight for yours truly! Luckily, I'm able to think up a little trick: I fire my grapple-gun at the ceiling, and start the retract-and let go as it whizzes up onto the ceiling! To screw up his echolocation even further, I hook my cape on the gun as it goes up. Sure enough, Man-Bat thinks he's 'seeing' me flee to the roof, and he follows...only to smack his head on one of the rafters!

(While this was happening, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Batman try to run after Man-Bat, but...he suddenly stumbled a little, and nearly tripped on a nearby piece of debris.)

Batman grappled up to the rafters immediately after, and jumped right onto Man-Bat! MB tried to shake him off, but wound up hurting himself more than his hitchhiker as he smashed into the walls. By the time Bats finally did fall off, all of the captives had safely made it downstairs, and I was free to join in the fight.

So, the instant he tries to dive for me...WHAM! Backwards somersault kick straight to the jaw! And another one in the stomach, with the other leg! Disoriented and winded, he fell over the nearby fence, and collapsed on the Gotham University roof. Using our grapples for safety, we went down onto the roof he just broke, and I restrained him while Batman forced some kind of pill down his throat. (He waited a few seconds, as his eyes...stared off into the distance.)

Within seconds, there were convulsions, and I looked away for a few...and when I looked back, there was Dr. Kirk Langstrom, no longer Man-Bat.

Batman spoke as soon as his eyes opened (and Kirk read his lips) "The medicine should prevent another outbreak like this for at least two months. Still, you should take it easy for a lit-"

Suddenly, Kirk interrupted: "Take it easy? How? Do you have any Idea what it's like, having another personality completely take over your body, and the things it does permanently ruining your life for when you get back in control? Do you have the slightest idea, Batman?"

"...I try to imagine only probable situations, doctor. So, I've never even tried. I'm very confident that something like that won...wo.."

Suddenly, Batman fell down, and started sliding off the slanted roof! I grabbed him, stopped him from falling, and asked what was wrong. I got no answer. After checking his vitals, I quickly found he was unconscious.

As soon as I realized this, I dug through his belt, found the remote control for the Batcopter, and called it over. Dr. Langstrom and I quickly put Batman on the stretcher, and I flew him back to the Batcave, where Alfred started tending to him as well as he could.

I'm still awaiting word on his condition.

(P.S.: I could've sworn Bats' eyes were...glowing...when he fell unconscious. Ever so slightly, but it looked like it was glowing with some sickening shade of green.)

-End Log Entry-

The log entries that follow that one, and a few in this very archive, tell of the events that occurred during the 'missing week' I mentioned.

As for myself, I remember this all clearly, but I have some things to add: During the times when Robin described me as 'losing my focus,' I...started hallucinating. I started seeing myself in locations I can't describe easily. It was worrying me at the time, as well, because I take special care to flush hallucinogens out of my system after I take down a criminal that uses one.

Maybe I was going insane. Maybe I still am.

Or, Maybe not.

Don't make your judgments too soon! Read on, and you'll know enough to decide for yourself if Batman really was hallucinating.

Oh, and please Review! I really worked hard on this during the concept phase, and hope to work even harder in the writing phase, so I'm open for...anything except flames!

Edit: this one used to be in the sections for Batman (Comics and Cartoons) and Batman the Animated series, but lack of publicity forced me to move it.