I do not own anything related to Batman either thru television, written books, comics or film. Everything belongs to DC Comics, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jon and Chis Nolan. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter 1

Song(s): Never Any No good (Allan Rayman)

July -

345 W 53rd Street Apt 5A, Hell's Kitchen, Gotham City…

6:46am

Tossing her damp bath towel over the stainless-steel bar of the shower, twenty-two-year-old Charlotte Teller ran her fingers through her long wet brown hair as she began to take the bobby pins out from between her lips one by one.

"It's my first day on the Force" she breathed, hearing the ding on her phone signaling a text message. Looking over to the crowded counter top that housed all her roommate's aloe vera and ivy plants, she grinned as she spied her father's message.

Good morning and good luck on your first day! xo

"You were always supportive Dad" Charlotte whispered to herself as she glanced at the time on the small white IKEA clock.

Gotta be quicker than this Lotte

Walking across the wooden floorboards of the narrow hallway, she spied the closed bedroom door of her University of Gotham roommate and entered into her own small bedroom, barred window and all. Opening up her closet, she ran her eyes over the freshly ironed black Gotham City Police uniform and bullet proof vest.

All these years I've wanted this, and now…

"I've got it" she smiled, pulling off the black GCP collard shirt from its hanger before slipping it over her shoulders.

…

Gotham City Police Department, Prescient 113, 1 Police Plaza, Gotham City…

7:58pm

Cracking the spine of her brand-new issued notepad, Teller filled out her name, phone number, badge number and prescient number as she felt an elbow knocking against her arm.

"First day. First fucking day!"

Giving a smile as she laid her pen down between the separated sheets of the notepad, her eyes caught sight of a discarded Gotham Post dated the day before Thursday.

"Can I see that?" she asked a fellow rookie as he reached over just in time to see the room door slam open.

"ALRIGHT LISTEN UP!"

Sitting her back up straight against her chair, Teller set her eyes on the face of the uniformed Sargent as she watched him slam down a clipboard full of papers.

"Today, is your first day. All of you are brand new rookies straight from the academy up state. The minimum age to be accepted as a police officer is twenty-one, and I'm expecting, judging from the baby faces I see seated before me, that many of you just rolled off your Mother's couch and into the nine-pound belt that is fastened around your waist."

Glancing down quickly to her hand as she laid it across her notebook, she took up her pen and angled it against the page as she prepared to write any notes.

I am twenty-two Sargent, but I sure as shit did not roll off my parent's couch

Far from it

"You all may think that you are now a part of one of the most revered police forces in the country, but in my eyes, none of you are a part of anything until you pass your six months' probation. Yes, you may wear my uniform and step foot in my house, but you are all guests. Remember that."

I get it

Strike the fear of God in everyone to weed out who can make it and who can't

"Smart" she whispered as the Sargent grabbed his clipboard.

"Right, now listen for your name and the name of your probationary officer."

…

Intersection of Bleeker Street and Sullivan Street, Gotham City…

11:23am

"Do you know your penal codes?"

Nodding her head as she watched out her window a young couple pushing a stroller with twin toddlers, she gave a small smile and a wave as one of the children tossed aside their stuffed animal onto the sidewalk.

"I can't hear a nod Boot."

Turning her eyes onto the middle-aged Officer that was to be her constant companion for the next six months, Teller laid her hands on her thighs and started to recite the most common codes she had been trained on at the Academy.

"Ten thirty-one Crime in Progress, ten thirty-eight Stopping a Suspicious Vehicle, ten seventy-eight Officer Needs Assistance" she began as Williams held up a hand to wave her off.

"Not that I'm expecting you to shine today, but there is an APB on Congressman Gelly who was last seen two nights ago at Bruce Wayne's mansion. Please tell me you watch the news and know who I'm talking about?"

"Yes Sir, I'm familiar with what the Congressman looks like. Did he leave with someone or did he drive…" Hearing the officer's irritated sigh as she shut her mouth, Teller returned her eyes onto the windshield as she spied another cruiser stopped at the red light.

"Day one Boot and you already thinking of gunning for Detective?" he chided, as he ordered her to roll down her window. Giving a slight nod to the young black-haired officer who sat in the driver's seat, she leaned her back against the seat as her training officer flipped on the four-way lights.

"Blake, you guys heading somewhere for lunch?"

…

Pablo's Taco Bar, West 3rd Street, Gotham City…

"Hey Blake, whatever happened to that cute little blond you were hanging with? Remember she came by the station one day last week?"

Taking a small sip of her ice tea, she could see the annoyance on the young officer's face as he met her eyes.

"Teller, where you from?" he questioned

"Hell's Kitchen, and you're Blake?"

"Yeah. John Blake. Five years in. I transferred divisions about four months ago."

"Where are you from?"

Wiping at the corner of his mouth as he swallowed the last bite of his soft taco, Blake reached over for a handful of napkins as he shook his head.

"Flushing."

Hearing the crackle of the radio clipped to his shoulder, she could barely make out the instructions from dispatch as he muttered a response.

"We're leaving Thompson. Teller, nice to meet you. Listen, it's tradition for rookies from your prescient to head to the Black Knight pub on Eldorado. My advice would be to not hook up with anyone. You'll regret it in the long run" he winked, rising to his feet as he and his partner dumped their garbage into the bin.

"Boot, I want to you to list for me all your penal codes from thirty to forty-five before we head back to the station to write up our morning paperwork."

…

Gotham City Police Department, Prescient 113, 1 Police Plaza, Gotham City…

8:14pm

"Check in your weapon then leave your book for me to sign on the counter."

Watching Williams walking away from her as she clutched her log book that needed to be signed after each and every shift, Teller sighed, mentally thanking the stars above that her first shift, her first day as a police officer had gone off nearly textbook.

"Officer Teller, end of shift, checking in my weapon please" she spoke just as a flurry of excitement sounded from behind the gun cage spilling out into the hallway as a siren went off.

"ROOKIE! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE WE'RE HEADING BACK OUT!"

…

Barely closing the cruiser door before Williams threw the vehicle into gear, she looked around outside her window as multiple cruisers with flashing lights and sirens all started barreling down the road in front of them.

"What the hell is going on?"

"A hit on the Congressman's cell phone on Bank Street. Days with nothing and now something? Can't be a walk in the park type situation. Everyone is being called in, even SWAT."

Jesus

Even though she was nearly exhausted from her first day of working the beat, she was feeling wide awake with enough adrenaline pumping through her veins that would prove to be the icing on the cake for a story when she returned home and her boring Mathematics studying roommate.

"SWAT will go in first and clear the scene but have your weapon drawn."

Feeling the cruiser slowing as they approached a dark seedy looking bar, she opened her door and let it close softly as she withdrew her weapon.

"SWAT already went in, officers have the Congressman, but there are others being rallied up. Move around back and watch your surroundings lighting is the shits" a Sargent spoke as Williams angled his head.

"Teller let's go."

Following her training officer as they rounded a pile of garbage bags and a skid of broken wood, she moved her eyes quickly to the mouth of the alley way just as she noticed movement.

Wait, who was that?

"M'am? M'am?"

Watching her shouts fall on deaf ears as the silhouette of a tall thin woman dressed entirely in black slunk down along the wall of the alley past two cruisers, Teller re-focused her eyes as she continued straight before rounding the corner of the building towards the sounds of gunfire. Spying four SWAT officers, she ducked behind a large garbage bin as the shots of a very large machine arsenal weapon rang out, taking out anyone and anything in its path.

That's something more than just a fucking Beretta

Rounding the corner of the bin, she aimed her gun high and squeezed the trigger, watching a body fall from the fire escape and down onto the ground as she moved quickly. Catching sight of two approaching cruisers cutting off the mouth of the alley, she narrowed her eyes as the flashing of the red and blue lights stun at her eyes.

Something to get used to

Joining the officers that exited out from the cruisers, she found herself sandwiched between two SWAT as three others continued ahead towards the back door of the bar.

"MANHOLE! GET THE DWP DOWN HERE!"

"YOU THREE, DOWN WITH ME. YOU TWO, YOU GO DOWN AND COVER THE NEXT EXIT!"

She had never met the Commissioner of the Police Force before, nor had she ever laid eyes on him in the flesh before this very night and as she followed him and two other officers down into the dark wet sewers beneath Bank Street, she couldn't help but smile as she drew her weapon for the second time that day.

"I'll lead, you two bring up the rear and you cover me" Gordon spoke firmly as he pulled out his gun. Moving slowly down the dark corridor lit only by the soft glow of flashlights, Teller breathed in slowly before holding her breath for five seconds.

You'll find them

You'll arrest them

You'll head back up street side

Watching her step as she noticed rutted grooves in the middle of the walkway, she had time to see two rats scurry through a puddle before the first two shots rang out from behind her. Swinging around as she trained her flashlight, she managed to get out one shot before the SWAT officers fired off their guns.

"ROOKIE!"

Feeling a hard shove against her shoulder, she felt herself stumbling into a small alcove as an explosion erupted just on the other side of the brick wall. Throwing the back of her hand up against her mouth as she violently coughed, she felt a strong hand slam down on her shoulder, guiding her out of the tunnel. Coughing into the sleeve of her issued jacket, she felt her eyes burning from the explosive smoke mixed in with whatever gas had been around in the sewer.

"Are you okay Rookie?"

Hearing the voice of the Commissioner, she was relived that he had not been caught up in the explosion as she turned and glanced over her shoulder.

Dead

Two dead officers and the gunman that had opened fire on them

"I don't know who we are dealing with, but there must be others and they sure as shit know we are here now" he breathed, wiping at the sting in his eyes as he quickly holstered his gun.

"Are we going back?"

Nodding his head as he reached out and moved his fingers against her bangs, he caught sight of a smear of blood as he noticed the slight cut just above her right eye.

"What's your name Rookie?"

Blinking her eyes as she stared up into the man's aging face, she could see pain radiating from his eyes as she wondered if he himself had sustained any injuries.

"Charlotte Teller. It's my first day Sir" she added, catching the slight grimace crossing Gordon's face.

"What a hell of a first day" the man muttered as he licked his lips. Raising his eyes up onto the pipes situated above, he hummed as he noticed the hot steam spewing from multiple angles.

"Alright it's going to get really hot but we have to head back the same way we came. Have your weapon drawn and stay close."

Taking slow tentative steps around her dead fallen comrades, she spied the open eyes of one man dressed in SWAT before noticing the blood pooling around the front of his neck.

Bullet wound, lets hope you died instantly before the tunnel blew

Not recognizing any of their surroundings, Teller step alongside a dead rat as she swung her gun around focused her eyes on the darkness behind her.

I heard something

"Sir, I think we are being followed" she whispered, stepping up close to Gordon's shoulder as he nodded his head. Spying a small alcove to his right, he pulled her inside and laid two strong hands on her jacketed shoulders.

"I believe you are right."

Shaking her head at the utterance of his words, Teller took a step backwards as she stared at his dress shirt and tie.

He's not even wearing a vest

Shrugging off her police jacket, she ignored it as it fell to the dirty wet ground as she pulled off the velcro of the bullet proof vest.

"Put this on Sir."

Blinking in surprise at the young Officer's words, Gordon sucked in a deep breath as he watched her shove the vest against his chest.

"Officer Teller, you wear…"

"To Serve and Protect Sir. You are the Commissioner."

Feeling his upper lip twitching as he took the vest, he quickly shed his grey suit jacket and tie before slipping it over his shoulders, fastening the velcro around his ribs.

"Alright, let's get out of here."

Leaving her jacket behind as they rounded the corner of the alcove, she followed the Commissioner's firm steps as she aimed her gun out in front of her.

We hadn't walked far, we should be near the manhole…

Blinking her eyes quickly as she was momentarily blinded by the bright white light of the flashlights, Teller raised her gun and managed to fire one shot before she felt a hard fist on the back of her head. Falling down hard onto her knees as she released her hold on her handgun, she glanced up to see Commissioner Gordon laying on the ground ten feet in front of her.

"Drag him, and get her to walk. Idiot! Put something over her eyes!"

Hauled up roughly to her feet, she kept her eyes firmly trained on the Commissioner's boots as two men wearing heavy jackets leaned down and steadied his weight against their shoulders. Steadying her shallow breathing as best she could, she felt sharp fingernails against the side of her face as a piece of fabric was tied tightly around her eyes.

"Start walking."

Tripping over stones and garbage as she listened intently for any identifying sounds as to where she was being taken, she knew she was being taken further into the sewer tunnels as she nearly tripped down a set of stairs.

Feeling a jab against her right rib to continue walking, she muttered a curse as the loud sounds of what sounded like metal on metal echoed off the tunnel walls.

Jack hammer?

Electric saws?

The sounds of construction

Hearing the rushing sounds of water to her left, Teller let out a groan as she felt her legs being kicked out from under her. Falling heavily onto her knees, she fell forward and felt the sharp stones biting into the flesh of her palms as she was hauled back up straight against something hard. Wincing as the blindfold was ripped off her eyes, she blinked hard as she wanted to rub at the sand and debris but immediately froze as she laid eyes on a crunched down man wearing cargo pants and no shirt.

"Why are you here?"

Hearing Gordon's painful groan as the man standing on her left side kicked him hard in the ribs, she focused her eyes on his limp body as she tried to remember which pocket of her belt held the small bottle of pepper spray.

We need something

Something of a distraction to try and get away

Over the edge and into the water?

How far a drop would that be?

"Answer him!"

"I was asking you."

Hearing the muffled breathing coming from the crouched man, she narrowed her eyes as she spied what appeared to be a breathing apparatus encasing the back of the man's head.

"It's the Police Commissioner." Catching the waver in the man's voice, she could hear the fear in his words as the masked man's breathing became more labored. Watching him toss some sort of liquid into the small burn pit containing a fire, she froze as he rose up onto his booted feet and slowly turned around.

Oh my God

"And you brought him down here?"

Lowering her eyes onto his approaching boots, she could hear the strength in his steps as he came to stand two feet away from her, unaware of his eyes falling over the cut above her eye and the beginning of a bruise against the side of her right cheek.

"We didn't know what to do. We just thought…"

"YOU PANICKED! And your weakness has now cost the lives of three others" the man spoke as he glared into the downcast eyes of the man on her right.

"No…he was alone except for…"

Wincing as she heard what sounded like a choking noise above her, she slowly brought her eyes up to see the man's muscled outstretched arm just as he quickly pulled back allowing the now dead man to fall onto the ground. Feeling the man's heavy dead arm hitting against her back and left shoulder, she fell forward and slammed a hand down on the toe of the man's boot before she scrambled back onto her knees feeling a hand tightly gripping the back of her neck.

"Search him, then I will kill you."

Swallowing hard as she heard the masked man's growl, she felt the hand on the back of her neck leave as he stepped aside of his dead comrade.

Narrowing his eyes as he looked down once more to the young woman propped on her knees, Bane flexed his fingers in irritation as he almost dared her to look up at him.

And who are you?

Feeling paper against his hand, Bane turned and grabbed the folded document between his thumb and forefinger as he separated the sheets, scanning his eyes over the Commissioners hand written words.

Commissioner

Commissioner, please look over

Mentally screaming at the man laying still on the dirty concreate ground, Teller watched as Gordon slowly rolled his head over, opening his eyes onto hers as she refused to blink.

"To Serve and Protect, Sir"

Roll

Roll off the ledge and into the drainage pipe

You can get away

You can tell the other Officers that I am down here

Pleading with her eyes, she watched Gordon close his own as she felt her breathing growing shallow.

Now

Hearing a flurry of shouts as multiple gun shots rang out and echoed off the concreate walls, she braced herself before biting down hard on her tongue, tasting blood.

He'll come back for me

He won't leave me down here

"He's dead."

No, he survived I can feel it

I gave him my vest

"So, show me his body" Bane breathed, turning around as he stared hard at the man holding his rifle.

"The water runs to any one of the outflows, we'd never find him" he protested, immediately regretting his words as he looked to Teller. "That one there, she told him to roll" he spat, hoping to deter the masked man's attention.

"Did you see my lips move?"

Narrowing his eyes as he heard her speak for the first time, Bane rubbed his index finger along the side of the Commissioner's handgun before returning his eyes onto his henchman's pale face. Hearing the shuffling of feet from behind her, she waited for another hand to slam down around her neck and instead, perked her eyes up at the sound of a high pitch beep as Bane held his held out. Hearing footsteps, she watched as a man wearing dirty khaki pants and a vest littered with bullets stepped past her, pressing a small black device into the man's hand.

"Follow him."

"Follow?"

Steeling her nerves as she watched the masked man pull the trigger of the handgun, she watched as the thug that had struck her across the face earlier collapsed onto the ground as Bane kicked him over the edge with ease.

"Track him. Then bring me James Gordon's body."

Nodding his head at his given instruction, Barsad turned and signaled for two other men to follow as Bane pocketed the written pages. Walking forward, he squatted down inches from his second guest's face as he glanced over her closed eyes.

"Look at me."

Hearing the loud hiss of his deep voice projected by the mask, she kept her eyes firmly closed as she tried to work out in her head, how much time she might have left before he shot her.

He's already killed two men in front of me

He has no problem with handing out death

How long can I stay alive for?

"I will not ask you again."

Taking a deep breath as she balled her fists against her thighs, Charlotte Teller listened to the rushing sounds of the water and imagined that she was out with friends hiking a trail in upstate New York.

You have to cooperate Lotte

Slowly opening her eyes, she felt her breath hitch in the back of her throat as she stared into the darkest pair of eyes she had ever seen.

…

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