Author's Note; Hi guys, just a two-chapter fic regarding Jim Gordon and his family...I am using Gary Oldman's 'Gordon' as in 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight', and this story takes place between the two films. Sheila xxx
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The Call of Duty
Chapter 1 - An Officer and a Gentleman
After checking that the door was securely locked for the second time, Jim Gordon raised his slender fingers up under his glasses and rubbed his heavy lids. Boy, it had been a long day...His new position as Lieutenant caused his responsibilites and workload to increase within Gotham City's Police Department. Not only that, but he and his own exclusive 'Major Crimes Unit' were hot on the trail of Gotham's latest terrorist, known only as 'The Joker'. Their time and efforts, however, had proved fruitless thus far. Even with the help of the formidible caped vigilante 'Batman', Gordon and his team could only clean up the colossal messes the crazed, clown-costumed criminal left in his wake.
After a thorough, somewhat severe massaging of his face, Jim finally opened his eyes to meet the dimly-lit familiar terrain of his nesty living room. A weary smile crept under his thick, grey 'tashe to see a corner lamp had been purposely left glowing, as if to invite him home. It was nice welcome from the manic streets indeed. Turning his head, he found an empty plate sat on the white-clothed table, accompanied by some cutlerey, a tall glass and a neat note;
'Dinner in microwave, leave in for 2 minutes, B xxx'
His small smile grew into a smirk upon reading the delicate hand of his wife. She must have reckoned he'd be home long before 2.30 in the morning. Barbara had put up with his long and late hours at the best of times, but since the latest havoc Gotham City faced at the hands of 'The Joker', she had proved the patience of a saint. This week alone saw him only able to sit for one family dinner. Leaving the feathery paper down, Jim sighed as his face fell - she shouldn't have to put up with it, he scolded himself, and neither should the kids. He had felt like one of those absent father's who misses their son's football games and daughter's ballet recitals, complete with empty promises of making it to the next one. In fact, he just about made it to little Babs' kindergarden graduation last week, but he did miss Jimmy's baseball debut on Tuesday.
Shaking his head, Gordon went to turn off the lamp and head to bed. Even though he had no dinner, nor any substansial meal all day, he wasn't hungry.
Proceeding down the narrow hall, he took a peek inside his baby girl's room. With his late nights at work increasing, it was now custom for him to sit and kiss the children as they slumbered. It reminded him why he was working as hard he was - he wanted Gotham to be a better place for its people, which included them!
Instead of finding Babs curled up beneath her blankets and teddies, Jim opened the door to find an empty bed. Perhaps she had made her way across into her big brother's room... Upon further investiagtion, however, Jim found his son's bed was also vacant. It had appeared Jimmy hadn't even mussed the sheets. Perhaps Barbara had sent them to stay with their Uncle Roger and their cousins, or maybe something happened in the neighbourhood to upset them...
Somewhat puzzled, Jim came to the end of the hallway, arriving at the door of his own room. As he widened the chink to let the orange hall-light pour in on top of his bed, his investigation was over. There, amid the tossed cream quilt, lay three suspicious bundles. The first was that of his missing daughter, contently sprawled and sleeping sound. The second was the lean 8-year-old frame of his son, proudly donned in his royal blue police pajamas. This was one expression of many that the child offered as an attempt to be like his father.
Softly stepping inside the haven, Gordon paused to take in the sight before reaching to run his fingers through young Jimmy's blonde locks. He gentley slid a stong hand behind the child's back before lifting his thin, limp body onto his right shoulder. Dead asleep, the boy barely flinched. Secure with his grasp, Jim moved to lift the smaller, lighter Babs and thus revealed the third bundle to be the shapely figure of his wife.
After kissing the little girl's warm, rosy cheek, Jim carefully carried the pair to their respective beds, dismissing them of their duty in keeping their mother company. Though fashionably late, he himself was home to do so now... Once he tucked both Jimmy and Babs in, he was finally able to get ready for some well-deserved rest.
After brushing his teeth, Jim found his way back to the master bedroom. There, under the faint light above the headboard, lay the inviting sheets of his bed and, of course, his wife.