CH.2: Rebirth through flames
James Gordon received a call regarding a runaway plane and set out with Bullock to the airport. A medical team was already on the scene and he arched a brow as Harvey went to pull to a stop.
"Are my eyes deceiving me or is that Bruce Wayne?" James honestly couldn't believe it either and yet lo and behold the young heir to the Wayne name was still here. It begged to question what he was doing here and why he hadn't boarded the plane when he said he would.
"I guess we should go and say hi and see if he is alright." James opens his door stepping out into the night of Gotham, the perpetual night as he saw it. The airport had been blown up by the plane and given how much fuel was on the plane it wouldn't take much to ignite it.
"Captain Gordon, glad you got my call." Alfred went to stand up though it was clear he was still hurting from his fight with Bane.
"Alfred, good to see you, and it would appear like Bruce is also here. Care explaining this?" He felt like things had been tied up nice and neat, bow and everything, but the moment that Bruce decides not to leave this happens.
"I can explain Captain," Bruce sat there in the back of the ambulance as he was being checked out. James notices how his hand is held tightly by Selina and he imagined it would be difficult prying the two lovebirds apart. The same went with Lee and him.
"I am all ears, though, if you need time we can always meet at the station tomorrow. I know how harrowing this must have been-."
"It was, but, my decision to not board the plane is what set these actions in motion. I believe and this could be conjecture but someone wanted me to board that plane. The moment I chose Selina…the moment I chose Gotham…that is when the pilot appeared to turn the plane in our direction."
"Why would your pilot want to take you out? I mean even if you had boarded the plane the pilot could have easily dispatched of you in the air." Bulloch was examining the wreckage and James felt that something didn't add up.
"Do you think it was Nyssa?" Nyssa Al Ghul had gone and escaped but even saying it aloud could be a longshot. Why would she stay in Gotham to wait and see if Bruce boarded that plane?
"I'm not sure. All I know is going forward now with me staying here is going to make things quite lively." Bruce appeared to laugh a little at that, a dry chuckle mostly given the circumstances.
"Bruce, I am glad you stayed, for what it is worth. I would feel better though if you three went to the hospital and stayed there till you were cleared to leave. If whoever did this is still around I don't want you three caught up in it. Don't worry…I am not leaving you out of the investigation, still, best you keep on your guard."
"Right, I understand." Bruce nods his head and goes to move into the ambulance and Selina goes to do the same. Alfred was left standing out there with them.
"This doesn't add up. Who would want Master Bruce dead?" James was considering that but even doing so at this late hour had a long list of suspects. "Harvey…you got something?" He noticed his partner was standing there transfixed by the flames, or, rather something near.
"Who do we know who uses a pocket watch?" James had a bad feeling about this and as he joins him with Alfred the two notice a pocket watch tinged with flames but very much still ticking away. His encounter with his mad man all started long ago and somehow he continued to prove his persistence in making his life miserable.
"Jervis Tetch…so…he is still alive, and, while I can see him hypnotizing the pilot, that doesn't explain the explosion." James rubbed his temple finding this case was going to take a bit and even now with the plane as it was they couldn't get close enough for a further inspection.
"I suppose this will be a matter for another day. It is good seeing you gentleman but under the circumstances I will join Master Bruce and young Ms. Kyle to the hospital. Goodnight." James and Harvey say their goodnight and he goes to join the two in the back of the ambulance.
"Oh before I forget…there is something I should tell you, nah I'm sure it can wait till tomorrow. A madman like Tetch on the loose in Gotham, feels like old times doesn't it?" James couldn't disagree. It did seem like Gotham had its fair share of rogues gallery of villainy. It kept things interesting though what was different now was he was a father and a husband. True his daughter had been born of Barbara and all and he was married to Lee Thompkins, but, overall they would make things work.
"Go and get some rest Jim…I can take it from here and tomorrow we can pick up where we left off. You might want to think about calling Lucius and filling him in on this, he does seem to have a knack for this stuff."
James nods his head leaving Bullock to look after the scene as he calls up Lee seeing if she was still up. The two of them had things to discuss now that Bruce was staying in Gotham.
The following day James winds up in the bullpen with the other Officers of the GCPD as they all gathered around. "Listen up everyone…as I am sure all of you have heard Bruce Wayne's plane yesterday was piloted by a hypnotized man and nearly killed him. Bruce and Selina as well as Alfred are alright, but, the pilot is dead and the plane has destroyed much of the building. I want a bolo put out on one Jervis Tetch in regards to possibly being involved in this case, if you see him do not engage but call it in, he is prone to hypnotize his victims."
While everyone was on the move James finds his eyes going over to Harvey who was talking to someone familiar. This was probably what Harvey was talking about yesterday so he walked over to where Harvey stood and he stopped talking to her as he stood at attention. "Jim, I'm sure you remember-."
"Detective Montoya…it is good to see you again. I thought you left the Department some time ago?" James studied her noting how she seemed at ease, her hands clasped behind her back.
"I couldn't stay gone forever…plus…knowing that you are shorthanded I thought I would come and lend you guys some assistance. Truth is I ran into some hard times and it took a bit getting my footing after. I intend on picking up whatever slack there is and if you will have me I would very much like to rejoin-."
"I don't think I ever saw any resignation papers, did you Harvey?" James looks over at his partner and friend who wears a knowing smile.
"Come to think of it with all that Gotham has been through the papers must have got lost, assuming there was one, honestly I was probably too hammered to notice. So Detective, ready to put those skills of yours back in action?"
James was glad to see Renee back and she appeared to be just as eager to get back into the swing of things. They needed all Officers on deck with this case as 'The Mad Hatter', or rather Jervis was on the loose and given the last time he saw him he had done some hypno work on him he was looking forward to finally putting him away.
"Just point me in the right direction Captain," Renee smirks, "working here again is like putting on your uniform in the morning…no matter how many times it is done nothing is ever forgotten."
"Harvey why don't you take Renee and see about checking out Tetch's place. I have a few phone calls to make and was planning on checking in on Bruce in the hospital." James heads to his office as he listens to the familiar humdrum activity of the Officers working on phone calls and gathering information. However it doesn't help that he has someone waiting for him in his office. Last person he expected to find as well.
Renee Montoya sat in the passenger seat of the police vehicle as it rolled through Gotham city streets. She had been away for a bit after falling off and drinking again…something that played a bit into fooling around with Barbara. She still had a place for Barbara in her heart but wasn't sure if she was wanting to start anything up with her.
Renee had been open about her sexuality since she could remember. It had taken a bit with the GCPD but somehow even with her sexual preference in partner they didn't shun her. She truly appreciated Harvey and Jim for their open arms even after being away for so long. Knowing what Gotham was going through and all the Officers lost it wasn't like a lot of people lined up to take up the shield and badge.
"Tell me something Renee…what makes you want to take up the badge again? I mean I know how it is to walk away from this job and somehow find one-self back here. Course I'm not going to tell you my sad excuse for a story so why don't you fill me in, we got time till we reach Tetch's place."
Renee figured that was true. They had got a warrant to search his place and she did wonder why Harvey didn't mention the guest in the Captain's office. Leaning back in her chair she finds her attention focused outside where Gotham was still rough around the edges.
"I was in a relationship, more or less…truth be told it wasn't much of a relationship and it just felt wrong. I walked away from it…and I fell behind in my duties, took to the bottle…needed time to reorient myself. Gotham is very much like me…both of us have been through the trash heap but we bounce back and long as Gotham stands tall and proud…so will I."
"Well that was a bunch of something stacked on top of nothing if I ever heard it," Harvey says with a light crack of a smile on his rough features.
"I figured the abbreviated version suited the time we had over some somber tale of a girl down on her luck and losing herself in the bottle and something she could never have." Renee places her hands in her lap as she runs a hand through her shorter hair.
"I get that, I do, and if you ever want to share the long version I am sure I can have a bottle and you can drink whatever it is you drink. Here we are." Harvey pulls to a stop in front of the building and they get out. Sirens could be heard in the distance and the sound of some commotion further off.
"I have a funny feeling about this," Renee couldn't shake the unease she felt as they went to enter the building and proceed to Tetch's room.
"Relax…just first day caution, it will disappear soon enough. Jervis Tetch, GCDP…we have a warrant to search your place. Open up." There is a long pause but no one answers so Harvey kicks down the door. They enter with their guns drawn but for whatever reason Tetch is not there.
"Do you think he left Gotham?" She holsters her weapon once the coast is clear and begins to put on her gloves.
"Hard to say…a madman like Tetch wouldn't just leave without announcing it in some grand scheme. I am going to check the bedroom." Harvey walks off and Renee goes to check the rest of the place. It was clear from the amount of dishes he hadn't been back in a while, and the pile of bills slipped under his door. No running water in the sink and the fridge appeared dead. Renee went to open his mail noting he hadn't paid anything in a while.
"Harvey…you got anything? Harvey?" Renee goes to check on him but is hit in the face and she stumbles back into the table. Her face explodes in pain and the next attack she uses her body to roll backwards along the table and get to the other side.
"Tick tock, rabbit has stopped, the Queen has cut his head…he was late, a fine mess to be had, now who will tell the time, such a sham, Gotham is set to rise from the flames…hooray a new day has begun. Little marinates all dressed to kill…who shall run this city through."
Renee had thought it was Harvey speaking and maybe it was…but another stronger voice carried through. Her ears picking up on a faint tick tock sound and she watches a man appear from behind Harvey holding a wrist watch. Oh no…wait…what was she doing?
"Hello Detective…shall we play?" Renee stood still and nods her head as something told her things were not going to be ok.
Authors note: Bruce and Selina are on the mend when Selina receives a visit from someone with a proposition.