Hey there! Here's chapter 2!

Again the disclaimer: Most of the characters belong to Mr. Butcher (YaY! Uncle Jimmy! xD) and DC Comics.

Murphy in Gotham

Chapter 2

"How many times do I NEED to explain that it DOESN'T work LIKE THAT, Bullock? – I screamed for the tenth time that morning – Please tell me, is there a way to get through your thick skull?" - Everyone stopped moving as I made my way towards the worst student I EVER had.

It had been two days since the self defense classes started and I've been repeating the same thing over and over and over again to the whole class: DO NOT break ANY bones. Of course, Bullock NEVER listened and he kept attacking the dummy doll with all the strength he had. It was strength enough to break an arm in two, maybe three, parts. The meaning in all this was that the officer knew the most effective way to stop a criminal, not how to KILL one. In these two days I've had enough of him. That fat ass, he did not let the class progressed at the pace I wanted and we were going to seriously fall behind schedule. I had to stop him now. And, you know what? The really annoying part was that he was doing it on purpose.

"If you don't want to learn Bullock, there's the door"

"Who says I don't want to learn huh? – he answered – it's not my fault that the teacher doesn't know how to explain things properly"

"How dare you…" – Barbara tried to defend me but I shut her with a hand gesture.

"I can handle this – I assured her, then I faced Bullock – You'll learn the difficult way then: I'll show you."

"Show me? With what? Barbies?" – he laughed. Some officers joined him. I glared at them. They shut up.

"Step onto the mat, we are sparring"

"You're on – he said – just don't go crying to your mama in Chicago when I finish you off"

"Come on guys – intervened Officer Lang – I'm sure there's another way to…"

"Shut up Lang!" – said Bullock. The officer shut his mouth instantly. Bullock moved him aside and then stepped onto the mat. I followed.

"Karrin, you don't have to do this – said Barbara – I know him, he won't play fair"

"Thanks for your concern Barbara, but you don't have to worry, I'll be fine – I assured her – believe me when I told you that I have faced… people… more frightening than him"

Not that I want to brag, that's not like me, but I have to say that THAT was the easiest fight of my life. He made the first move. He charged like a mad bull trying to push me down. He tried to take me by surprise. He failed miserably. I only had to make 3 little steps to knock him down. One: move to the side; two: grab his arm; three: toss him across the room smashing him to the wall. It was all over in 30, maybe 40, seconds. The whole class (24 officers and Barbara) were silent as tombs. I had to take the initiative.

"Reyes, Johnson, take Bullock to the infirmary. Class dismissed. I'll see you guys tomorrow" – again nobody moved. I was about to ask what the heck they were waiting for when I heard him.

"That was one great demonstration! I'm very pleased with what I saw… and with what I'm still seen."

I turned to the door and encountered a pair of (beautiful) blue eyes. Now I was the one that wasn't moving. Lucky me, no one noticed.

"Mr. Wayne! What are you doing here?" – said Barbara. Her voice snapped me off of the spell those eyes had me in. 'Come on Murphy, get a grip on yourself. You are not the type to fall over some pretty eyes', I said to myself.

"Nothing urgent Miss Gordon – said Wayne. I knew I've heard his name somewhere but my brain hadn't recovered completely yet – My meeting ended early and I decided to come and take a look. I'm the one paying the instructor after all" – he laughed

"Wait, what? – I managed to say, finally – You are the one sponsoring these classes? I thought it was all Gordon's idea."

"Don't get the wrong idea miss…"

"Sergeant, – I interrupted him putting emphasis in the word – it's Sergeant Murphy"

"Right, Sergeant Murphy – he continued – it was the Commissioner's idea. He wanted his officers to have these classes but this year's budget didn't help. One of my many philanthropic activities is to aid the P.D so I offered my company as the main and only sponsor. We both decided to hire you, Sergeant, thanks to a video of last year's Chicago aikido tournament. You were very impressive in the video and, I got to say, you are also very impressive in person" – he said the last part with a smirk on his face.

"I hope, Mr. Wayne, that you are only talking about my skills in the discipline – I said, as cold as ice – if not, I will not tolerate it."

I glanced around the room. Everyone was still there. I got mad.

"Why are you all still here? GET OUT UNLESS YOU ALSO WANT TO PAY YOUR RESPECTS TO THE WALL!"

I've never seen people disappear so quickly in my life. Barbara was the only one who stayed. I really didn't mind that.

"So, Mr. Wayne, if you'll excuse me" – I tried to get out but he blocked the exit.

"Am I wrong in thinking that you do not know who I am?" – He asked.

"Should I know it?"

"Karrin, are you serious?" – asked Barbara

"Again, should I? – They were both perplexed – I mean, yeah, your name rings a bell but I can't seem to place you. Too many things in my mind and I can't focus. It's like…"

And then… realization. Wayne. Bruce Wayne. He was the chairman of Wayne Enterprises and Gotham's most eligible bachelor.

"You are Bruce Wayne – I said – Gotham's number one playboy!"

Barbara couldn't help it, she laughed.

As for Bruce Wayne…

"Are you blushing Mr. Wayne?" – I teased him, Barbara laughed harder. I'm pretty sure Harry will be proud of me when I tell him about this.

"I am not…! – he stopped middle sentence to recover his composure – anyway, I'd like to join your lessons Sergeant, if that's possible."

"It is possible. – I answered (Barbara still laughing) – The classes are two times a day; from 8 to 10 and from 7 to 9. You pick one. I do not tolerate tardiness or excuses. The rules are simple: do as I say or get your ass kicked. Are we clear?"

"After seen detective Bullock flying like that I can say yes, clear as crystal – we shook hands then he turned to Barbara – Miss Gordon? May I have a word? It won't take long."

"Ye-Yeah… su-sure – said Barbara. She had finally stopped laughing. Was it really that funny? Weird girl – I'll catch up with you later Karrin"

"Yeah, see you later"

Before closing the door I took a peak on those two. The smiles had transformed into frowns and the candid eyes had become ice cold. I didn't know Barbara or Wayne could make such threatening faces. They were up to something. Oh well, unless they got hurt it was none of my business. At least not for now.

….

Barbara called me two hours later saying that she couldn't show me around town today. She said something about water flowing into the reference room in the library. Said that she was sorry and hung up before I could answer.

Well, with or without Barbara I refused to remain locked up till I had to go to the 7pm class. Okay, so everyone told me that the city is not safe right now, so what? I'm a grown woman, I know martial arts, I'm a cop and I have a gun. No one was going to mess with me. Or so I thought.

I changed into more comfortable clothes and went into the city.

If I knew what was in store for me that afternoon I would have remained locked up.

…

Do you know the phrase "life can change overnight"? Well, mine didn't change overnight… it changed over minutes.

7 minutes to be exact.

If hadn't run to catch the bus then I wouldn't have dropped my keys. Because I dropped them I was delayed enough time to catch a kid's football and returned it safely to its owner. There went 3 of the 7 minutes and I also lost the bus. While I was waiting for the next one (1 more minute) I saw something. Two men, in regular clothing, that seemed to be waiting for something. Nothing one could call out of the ordinary, actually. But something, a six or seventh sense, told me not to divert my gaze. 2 minutes later the next bus arrived. I was about to get on when I noticed an old lady at my side. I let her board first and in doing that the last minute passed... and then all hell broke loss. There was a gun shoot and then a lot of other gun shots. People started screaming and running. Chaos everywhere and no one noticed the 2 guys I've spotted earlier carrying a third one into a van. All that chaos was obviously a distraction. I ran, trying to catch up with them. I didn't, but I got a good look at the plaque of the car. The cop in me took over. I grabbed a bike and started to follow the van, like they do in movies.

Later I would think 'you shouldn't have done that'.

At least not alone.

…

They caught me.

I won't tell you how they got me. It's embarrassing.

I never make such rookie mistakes. But let's face it: this is not Chicago.

They took my gun (a caliber 38), my hidden gun (a little 22), my bag (which had a pepper spray) and my favorite jacket. At least I left a couple of them unable to have children. Now I was in a storage room trying to remember how Houdini took of his handcuffs. At least I was not alone. But my storage partner was something like unconscious. No help would come from there. I glanced at the clock above the door: 5:20. No one would notice my disappearance before 7. I was in trouble.

"So – said one of the men behind the door – what we doin' with the pretty face, huh? Boss's not gonna like it"

"Boss doesn't need to know about it jackass! – I heard some slapping – chick's too fierce."

"You bet she is – said a third one – my balls still hurt"

"And whose fault it is, huh?"

"Yeah, you are the one who approached her and try to make a move"

"So let's just finish her off! We already have the Whitmore guy!"

"Or we can drug her and screw her little first – said the first guy – Boss's not going to get here within the next couple of hours anyway. A little fun for us."

Yep… I was in BIG trouble.

"Nah… forget it – said the ball less guy – I'm in no condition to do that"

"Speak for yourself, I'm in!"

"No one's in! – Said a fourth voice – the girl's a Chicago cop"

"And what? Who cares! This is not Chicago!"

"Our Boss cares. More know that he's in business with that Marcone. One of the points in the contract was for us NOT to attack his people."

"Listen to yourself man, she's a cop."

"And? Rumor has it that half the Police Department there responds to him! She can be one of them for all you know!"

"Yeah, I think you're right!"

"Damn I'm right"

Marcone? I was going to live (for now) thanks to Marcone? I owed him one indirectly… Augh… such a disgrace…

After that one of them noticed that the storage door was a little ajar and closed it. I wasn't able to listen to their conversation after that.

6:24… another had hour passed.

My limbs were getting numb thanks to the position they had me in. My wrists hurt due to the handcuffs. I also wouldn't be surprised if I was bleeding. I turned to see if my storage partner has woken up. Not moving. They must have hit him pretty hard. At least I knew I wasn't sharing the space with a corpse. I could see his chest rise and fall. It was nearly imperceptible but it was there.

I was tired. I'm sure that's the reason I started thinking about Harry. I could hear him saying 'Come on Murph, getting capture and doing nothing about it? It's not like you at all. Where is the tough woman who killed a plant demon with a chainsaw? Where is the woman that kicked the undead asses of the black court with me and Kincaid? Come on Karrin! Show them what you can do!'

You know you HAVE to do something when an imaginary Dresden scolds you. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. No one takes Karrin Murphy as their prisoner.

"Hey lady, I like that look in your eyes. What do you have in mind?"

"What? - I turned. It seemed that my 'partner' had finally woken up – well, good morning to you sleeping beauty. Took you a while, huh?"

"That happens when someone shots you on the leg and then beats the crap out of you – he answered – but let's not talk about me, what do you have in mind?"

"First I have to take this off – I said struggling with the handcuff once again – they are not too tight. If I could just … – I suppressed a scream. I had dislocated my thumb making it possible for me to free my left hand – crap that hurt."

"You can fix it right? – he asked – you will not be of much use with just one hand."

"Says the guy with just one leg" – I said while putting my finger in the correct place, again, repressing a scream.

"Touché… Now what?" – He stood leaning on his good leg. I approached the door.

"It's unlock – I opened it and peaked around the room – All my stuff is on the table. Be right back."

I grabbed my 38. It was empty. Damn it. I checked the 22… 4 bullets. Well, it was something. The pepper spray was still on my bag.

"Here – I threw my 38 to the guy – It's unloaded but maybe you can brag a little with it"

"Or use it to break some skulls"

"Yes, that too and…" – the sound of the door being opened interrupted me. I made a sign and each of us stood by the door guns ready. The door opened and I turned off the light. It was pretty dark.

The person entered the room and I reacted.

"Don't move or I'll blow your brain off"

I don't know how it happened but in the next second my 22 was flying across the room and I was been pinned to the floor. I heard irregular steps and then the door closing. My 'partner' had left me on my own. Bloody coward. I got angry. I smashed my opponent's sheen with the back of my head, and then used my elbow to get the bastard off of me. It was my turn to attack.

"Well, well, well – said my attacker, by the voice I could say that it was male – someone knows how to fight" – I didn't answered. Talking would just exhaust my already tired lungs. I attacked.

He avoided my punch and I avoided his. We started something that seemed like a dance. I managed to connect some good punches and so did he. But he had the upper hand on this. A while later my face meets the table, my hands on my back. I closed my eyes expecting him to finish me when the door opened and the light was lit.

"ROBIN! NO! WAIT! – said a female voice – She's not with them!"

"She? – he looked at me – Holy…! A woman?" – he released me. I slipped to the floor falling on my knees.

"Don't be such a pig Robin – said the girl kneeling beside me – Are you ok Sergeant Murphy?"

"Ho-how do you know m-my name?" – I asked

"No one steps into Gotham without HIM knowing, right Batgirl?"

"Wait, Robin? Batgirl? – I opened my eyes (that had been closed since I hit the table) and looked at their faces. Masked faces – I can't believe this."

"You better do because we have some questions for you Sergeant"

I turned to the door where the new voice was coming. My eyes went wide. There, in front of me, was another masked guy.

It was him.

The Batman.

…

A.N: And that's it for the second chapter :D. It was fun to write. Not so bad for someone who has English as a second language right?

So, like the mini fight between Robin and Murphy? The original idea was to make her fight against Babs but in all the scenarios I came up with she ended calling her 'Karrin' in the recognition scene… and Murphy being Murphy would have guessed it was Barbara. I didn't want that. Now, I need opinions… in the next chapter Bruce is going to take Dick (yes my Robin is Dick Grayson :D) to the self defense classes and I'm going to make Dick fight Murphy again. This time it would be a fair fight (in this chapter Murphy was not at her 100 percent) so, which one should win? I will put the poll in my profile or you can cast your vote via RR or DM. I'm doing it like this because I love both Murphy and Dick and I really can't decide the winner.

Also, I know that Bruce and Babs were a little OOC in this chapter but don't worry; they will be on character from now on.

See you on chapter 3!