Up on the Roof

Commissioner Jim Gordon stepped out onto the roof and headed for the junction box that would activate the signal for the Batman. He was deep in thought as he reached for the lever that would send power to the powerful search light. Just as his fingers brushed the lever, a hand grabbed his wrist. Gordon's gun was in hand before he even realized what he was doing.

"Just wanted to tell you it wasn't necessary," Batman said releasing Gordon's wrist.

"That's a damned good way to get shot," Gordon growled. Looking up he saw nothing but shadows. He turned around and found Batman standing next to the signal light.

"The Navy cop," He said as Gordon walked over. "Tell me about him."

"Gave me hell for not making you stay," Gordon said. "He wants to talk to you."

"I told you everything."

"I don't think he cares."

"What else?"

"He's tough," Gordon said. "Acts like a Marine. Looks like one too."

"Hmm."

"It's his case," Gordon said. "He's a Fed. If he pushes it, I have to do everything I can to get you and him face-to-face."

"Can't happen." Batman said, looking out over the city. "I got a bad feeling about him."

"He's tough," Gordon said, "a bit of a bastard, but he's straight. I'd bet on it."

"That's the thing," Batman said. "He looks too straight, too tough. He might try something that would be bad for everyone."

"Especially you?"

"Especially this city."

"Hands on your head!"

Both men turned abruptly to see NCIS Special Agent Gibbs pointing a gun their way.

"I'm not gonna ask twice." Gibbs said stepping forward.

"Gibbs, stop," Gordon said raising his hand. "You don't want to handle this like this."

"Stay where you are Commissioner," Gibbs said continuing to advance. Get your cuffs out and put them on him."

"Gibbs please," Gordon said.

"Do it or get arrested yourself."

"I'm sorry for this Jim," Batman said, slipping a hand under his cape. With his free hand, he shoved the commissioner towards Gibbs and made for the ledge.

Gibbs raised his weapon to avoid accidentally shooting the police commissioner as he caught him. Shoving Gordon out of the way, he once again leveled his gun at the fleeing shadow.

"Stop right there!" he shouted. Batman paused at the ledge and looked back.

"Another time Agent Gibbs," he said, just before leaping over the side of the building.

Gibbs ran for the ledge in shock. The bastard jumped, he thought. As he reached the ledge, he looked over and saw a huge bat shape with wings outstretched gliding towards the next rooftop.

"You get used to that," Gordon said, as he stood. Gibbs turned his attention back to the police commissioner.

"That's twice on my case you've had him in your presence and let him go." Gibbs said, advancing on him.

"In case you missed it, I didn't exactly let him go this time." Gordon shouted.

"If you had cuffed him when I told you to…"

"Then the same thing would have happened only a minute earlier." Gordon was fuming, but he remained cautious as Gibbs still had his weapon in hand.

"What was he doing up here in the first place?" Gibbs asked staring Gordon down.

"He came here to talk."

"And again it didn't occur to you to bring him to interrogation so I could talk to him?" Gibbs was fuming, gripping his Sig tightly.

"You're not from around here." Gordon shouted.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means that you don't know what that man has done for this city," Gordon shouted. "We were drowning. Criminals were taking over everything, businesses, politics, and the police. They weren't limiting themselves to the night anymore. Even the best cops were helpless against them."

"So how does this guy fit in?" Gibbs asked, now more curious than angry.

"He came out of nowhere," Gordon said. "Helped us put a huge dent in mob activities. Put dirty cops on the run, gave notice to crooked politicians and businesses. He gave this city hope."

"All by himself?" Gibbs asked.

"Essentially," Gordon said. "You gotta understand, he's got tools we can't even dream about, skills that shame martial arts masters, and drive. My God he's driven to clean up this city. He's one of the good guys Agent Gibbs."

"Doesn't make him exempt from procedures," Gibbs said, holstering his gun. "Get me a face-to-face. I need to talk to him."

"If you haven't ruined that chance already," Gordon said as Gibbs stepped through the door and headed back downstairs.

"I'm impressed," Alfred Pennyworth said bringing a tray of refreshments to the tabletop next to Batman's command center. "No new bruises, no cuts, and no damage to you or the suit."

"It was a quiet night," Bruce Wayne said, not taking his eyes from the computer screen. "A couple of muggings and a dead sailor."

"Yes, I saw that on the news," Alfred said. "I assume that means a new branch of law enforcement is involved?"

"NCIS," Bruce said, "from the D.C. office."

"I see."

Bruce looked from his monitor to his butler, his friend. "Something on your mind Alfred?"

"I just worry," Alfred said. "Not all are as forgiving as Commissioner Gordon. You may want to tread carefully with this new lot."

"It's the team leader that concerns me." Bruce said turning back to his work. "I get a feeling that this is over his head, but he's not the kind to let someone else do his work."

"Do his work?" Alfred asked. "Is that what you're doing?"

"No," Bruce said. "I'm just trying to keep everyone safe."

"You can't keep everyone safe," Alfred said. "And I pity you each time you learn that hard lesson."

Bruce turned again from his monitor and looked at the man who raised him. With all of the chaos in his life, Alfred Pennyworth has remained the one true constant.

"Alfred," he said. "Do you think that I am effective enough?"

"Pardon?"

"I've been thinking since The Joker, these guys aren't going to stay down just because we lock them away. Sometimes I feel like putting them down for good."

"Ah," Alfred said. "Well that would certainly stop their reign of terror."

"Yeah."

"But a whole new one would begin."

"You know I'd never kill anyone who didn't deserve it." Bruce said, irritated.

"And how would you decide who deserves it?" Alfred asked. "And what would give you the right to decide?"

"Alfred, monsters like Joker don't deserve to live."

"Says who? You?" Alfred said, somewhat affronted. "Who is to say that one of these madmen can't see the light? Perhaps one of them could do something to save a life rather than taking it. How would they ever get that chance if you don't give it to them?"

"Do you really think Joker would save anyone?"

"Can you live with yourself knowing you never gave him the chance to try?"

Bruce hung his head, knowing that Alfred was right, knowing too that given the opportunity, he doubted he could go through with it. Sometimes though… his thoughts were interrupted by the beeping of his computer. Turning back to the monitor, he saw a photo of NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. As he paged through the files, a smile appeared on his lips. Toobadhe'snottwentyyearsyounger, he thought. While Bruce read through the dossier on Gibbs, Alfred made a quiet exit.

"Yeah McGee," Gibbs said answering his phone.

"Boss, you're not going to like this," McGee said.

"Tell me anyway."

"I've been looking for information on Batman," McGee said, "and can't find anything other than public knowledge. Even the Gotham City P.D. and D.A.'s office don't know any more than the general public."

"Damnit," Gibbs swore. "What about Gordon? Anything on him?"

"Some men in his unit were investigated a while back, some questionable instances in his cases, but nothing overt. All-in-all, Boss, he looks clean."

"Yeah, that's what I thought McGee. Keep looking though."

"Uh, Boss," McGee said before Gibbs could disconnect. "There's more."

"What?"

"NCIS has been hacked."

"By who?" Gibbs asked suddenly concerned.

"That's the bad news Boss," McGee said. He hated telling Gibbs bad news. "We don't know. The trace died."

"It what?" Gibbs said confused not for the first time with McGee's computer talk.

"It died Boss," McGee began. "Whoever hacked us had some serious hardware… The trace just stopped as soon as it began."

"What does that mean McGee?"

"It means that unless they try again, we have no idea who did it or where they are."

"Was anything compromised?" Gibbs asked.

"Uh, yeah." McGee hated giving Gibbs worse news more than he hated giving him bad news.

"Well?"

"Boss, they downloaded our dossiers." McGee winced, waiting for the explosion. Nothing came. "Uh, Boss?"

"How much?"

"Everything."

"Everything?"

"Boss, they even got the information, we're not allowed to read about ourselves."

"Does Vance know?"

"Yeah, the guys in MTAC are working on it, but they're getting nowhere."

"Damnit."

"Boss," McGee said tentatively. "No offense, but you're taking this better than I would have thought."

"I think I know who it was," Gibbs said through gritted teeth. Keep looking into Batman and if anything else happens call me."

"Right Boss."

Gibbs closed his phone and looked towards the office Commissioner Gordon had disappeared into earlier. Cracking his jaw, he made his way to the office door. A young uniformed officer stood up as Gibbs approached raising his hand to stop him.

"If you plan to have a long career, you'd better sit down," Gibbs told him as he walked past and opened the door.

"Get him back here right now." He said pointing to Gordon.

"Who the hell do you think you are barging in here like this?" Gordon asked as he put down the phone.

"I want to talk to that bat man now!" Gibbs said stopping in front of Gordon's desk.

"We've been over this," Gordon said getting up and walking around his desk. "And you do not barge into my office and make demands like you're MY boss."

With a slam of the door, Gordon rounded on Gibbs. "Now, let me explain something to you once and for all," he said making certain that his finger was firmly planted in Gibbs' chest. "This is your case, and you have a right to investigate it however you want."

"Glad you realize that," Gibbs said. "No move your finger."

"But this is my city damnit," Gordon said as if Gibbs hadn't spoken. "And while you're here, you will show me and my department respect. If you want us to help, fine! We'll help. If you want us to back off and let you do the legwork, even better. But if you need anything else from me or my department, you will ask like a God damned civilized human being. You got that Special Agent Gibbs?"

Gibbs looked as if he were about to murder. After staring at Gordon for a few seconds, he shook his head slightly.

"Hell Gordon," he said. "Since you put it that way."

Gordon gave a slight nod, followed by Gibbs. As Gordon moved back around his desk, he grabbed a couple of glasses and a bottle. After pouring a drink for him and Gibbs, he handed the Glass to the man across from him and they both sat.

"Here's the problem," Gordon said after taking a drink of the bourbon. "I can turn that signal on and leave it on all month. If he doesn't want to come, he won't."

"I do need to talk to him Commissioner," Gibbs said. "I think he just committed a federal offense."

"Agent Gibbs," Gordon said. "I can personally vouch for him. He's not a killer."

"That's not what I'm talking about," Gibbs said. Then seeing Gordon's confused look, he continued. "NCIS was hacked today. The dossiers of my people were downloaded, and I think it was him."

"I don't know everything he's capable of," Gordon said, "but it wouldn't surprise me if it was him."

"Why?"

"You've been trying to learn all you can about him right?"

"There's a big difference."

"Not from where he sits."

"He's not an agent of the law," Gibbs said, maybe a bit louder than he wanted.

"Not officially," Gordon said.

"Not in any way," Gibbs replied. "Hell, vigilantism, hacking federal databases, he's a better crook than he would ever be a cop."

"Maybe," Gordon said. "But the fact that he's willing and able to go outside the rules every now and then, is what makes him so valuable to justice."

"Is it justice?" Gibbs asked. "What he does?"

"Every major criminal Gotham City has sent to Blackgate Prison or Arkham Asylum since he came to town, is there because of him."

"How bad is the department that he's even needed?" Gibbs asked.

"Bad," Gordon answered. "Sometimes I don't really know who I can trust. I'm still trying to clean this department up Gibbs. It's a slow process, but he's helping."

"Well," Gibbs said, as he emptied his class. "I'm gonna check in on my team. If you can, get me a face-to-face."