Chapter Four
Catalina POV
When I arrived home that night after work, I felt emotionally and physically exhausted. I was probably more scared than I had ever been before. I knew that this man was a madman and I knew he was capable of many things, but I never would have thought in a million years that a human being could do something like this.
I had dressed quickly in my gym clothes and read the note my brother had left for me on the table. He had gone to a friend's house for the evening, and he didn't want to disturb me at work. I smiled and looked around at the small apartment. It wasn't much but it was a home for now. If Jim held true on the promotion and the raise after this mission, I would get my brother a better house and maybe even a puppy like he had always bugged me for.
I moved down to the gym at around eight or so and leaned against the wall in thought. Did I really want to do this? What if I did die? Where would my brother go? Perhaps the strangest question on my mind at this point in time was, why the hell had I been so mean to Bruce? He was a very nice guy, and not what I thought at all. I knew he didn't want me to go, but hell, I didn't want to go either. A sudden breeze made me shiver, and I wrapped my arms around my bare midriff.
This afternoon at the diner with Bruce, the man had left me totally stunned and in a state of awe. I had this image of him, in my head, of someone who would be stuck up and rude. Well, didn't he just throw me for a complete 360? I sighed heavily and looked down at the ground. I would call him tomorrow and sincerely apologize for my actions. I froze, feeling as though I wasn't quite alone anymore. I stood motionless against the wall, rigid just like a statue.
My heart thudded loudly against my chest and I looked around the gym. I didn't see anything at first, and then something in the corner of the room caught my eye. I froze in the dead silence. The ticking of a clock that hung nearby thundered in my head. The creaking of the heavy punching bag sent shivers down my spine. I heard someone clear their throat: soft, low, and my stomach flipped in my torso.
"Come out where I can see you!" I yelled across the space. My voice didn't sound like the voice of a frightened woman. No, it was the voice of an officer with years of training. The man stepped out where I could see him. I sighed in relief and slouched once again against the wall for support. "You aren't funny!" I scolded angrily. Batman moved over to my side and looked down at me.
"I wasn't trying to be." His voice was low, warm, and still really familiar. "Were you scared?"
"Yes…" I answered honestly, refusing to look at him.
"Good, you need to be. I want you to know how to take your fear and turn it into something you can use against your enemies." Batman's words were soft enough but the meaning was clear. "Did you do your run?" He asked, glancing my way. I shook my head.
"What if I can't do this?" I asked him, my arms folding over my chest once again. "I mean, I don't know…" I groaned, really not knowing what I was trying to get at. "I guess I'm second guessing myself." I shrugged, looking up at him. The man next to me sighed and I couldn't tell if it was in irritation or out of relief that I didn't want to go through with this anymore.
"Listen, it's trueWayne and I don't want you to go in, but Gordon thinks you're the right one for the job. If he believes you can do it, then so do I." He stated. I raised an eyebrow and looked at the floor in thought for a moment.
"But I don't think I can anymore! I saw the file and what he did to the little girl!" I said, not realizing my voice had gone up a few decibels. "What if he does that to me? What if he gets my brother?" I asked, my eyes wide in horror. Batman turned to me slowly, placing his hands on my shoulders.
"Stop it." He growled. His low, deep rumble made me look away. "Gordon showed you those files to give you an idea of what you're going up against. He wanted you to have a fair chance. This is the fear I'm talking about. Don't let this fear take you over! You must control it and do your job. Gotham, your brother, and even Wayne are counting on you to bring down this madman." As he spoke, his voice softened and I began to relax. He was right. I needed to do this for Jim, my brother, and even Bruce. I nodded slowly, taking in everything that had just been brought to my attention. I turned and began to walk toward the small indoor track.
Once I finished my run, Batman and I worked on my overall fighting skills. He got in a few good punches but thanks to the academy, I knew how to block pretty well. I was sweating and extremely tired, but I knew I had to get one decent hit in before he called it quits. I took my fighting stance one last time and summoned the energy to unleash a good roundhouse kick to his side. My foot connected with his ribs and he gave a loud groan, collapsing to the mat. I stood above him, watching him carefully. Then it hit me: he was really hurt!
I sank to my knees beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He had an arm wrapped about his torso and was breathing heavily, almost gasping for any little bit of air he could get.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you like that!" I said, frightened, "Should I call an ambulance or something?" I hurried nervously. Batman winced and gave me a slightly crooked grin.
"No! No, definitely not." His voice was a low groan. He stood weakly and moved over to the small bench. He leaned his back against the wall, looking at me. "The Joker managed to break some of my ribs a couple of nights back." He explained in a rough whisper. I gasped and frowned.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry!" My hands went to my mouth as dread flooded me. Batman shook his head.
"Don't be, that's one hell of a kick." He said, glancing over at me once again.
"Are you going to be okay?" I asked, genuinely worried. He nodded curtly and stood.
"We should call it a day." He whispered. "Take it easy tomorrow. Tell Gordon I said so, I don't want you overworking yourself." I nodded, knowing better than to argue with him. I trusted he knew best for me. I watched him leave a little less quietly than when he first snuck in, because of his ribs. I heaved a sigh and moved up the stairs slowly, my muscles already beginning their dull, throbbing complaint. I went to bed and was soon fast asleep.
I woke the next morning and took a good hot shower that loosened my muscles a little. My brother had breakfast set on the table and it looked as though he had already eaten. I raised an eyebrow and checked the clock.
"I'm not that late, am I?" I asked, sitting down stiffly at the table. He laughed gently and shook his head.
"I'm gonna walk today so you can relax a little longer before you have to go into work." He told me, standing from the table. He moved over to kiss my cheek. "Te amo, Catalina. Tienes bueno dia!" He called as he left the apartment. I sighed, looking down at the table in thought again. I couldn't wait till this was over. I wanted to give him a better childhood than I had. So far, I was failing horribly!
I stood and left for work, not able to sit and think any longer. When I arrived, I got to my desk and started on some older files. I closed them up and put them away. They were cases on car-jacking and other small thefts; they would be passed on to my partner. He could handle those, I was sure. Gordon greeted me and asked me to follow him into his office, which I did.
"What's goin' on?" I asked.
"Is it too much?" He countered. I winced and looked away a little embarrassed.
"No," I lied, "I'm fine."
"I don't believe you." He took a moment to glance out the window of his door as he watched the other officers pass by. "Do you know why I picked you, Cat?" He asked curiously. I shrugged.
"No, I honestly don't." I responded. My voice was low, but my eyes were on him questioningly.
"I picked you because your father would always tell me that this was what you wanted to do. He would come in with pictures of you playing cops and robbers with him. You were his angel. Then when you began to grow up and started college, he came in the day before the accident and told me that you were strong, and intelligent, and bull-headed." He paused, chuckling slightly and shaking his head. The day before the accident my father and I had fought verbally. Ever since I was little he wanted to see me attend the police academy and head off to work for the CIA or FBI. I had told him that's not what I wanted. He always had to know best, though! "He called you something in Spanish but never told me what it meant. I can't even recall the word anymore." He smiled. I lowered my eyes to his desk.
"I miss them Jim, it's so hard right now and I just keep thinking about my brother and what would happen to him if anything bad ever happened to me." I whispered, feeling a bit silly. Jim moved to my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Your father believed you could do anything, Cat. He told me to have faith in you, and that you would be twice the office he was." I met Gordon's eyes, feeling the tears spring to my own. "If you can't find the faith in yourself, use the faith your father had in you." I nodded.
"You know I'll do it, Jim." I wiped the tear from my cheek. "Just promise me that you won't let my brother be placed into an orphanage or anything like that?" I asked, frowning up at him. He shook his head emphatically.
"I won't even have to worry about it because I know you'll be fine." He offered his most confident smile. I thanked him for his little morale booster and moved back out to my desk. Work passed very slowly for the next few hours until I finally got to go home.
I walked up the stairs that led to my little apartment and opened the still locked door. That was odd, because it was about five o'clock so I knew my brother should have been home. I entered the apartment and looked all over for a note of any kind. When I didn't find one I began to panic. I picked up the house phone and dialed his cell phone number. The phone just rang and rang and rang. My heart thudded against my chest.
I picked up the receiver again and tried one more time. The phone once again rang out, No answer. I slammed the receiver down and looked at the clock. I would give him till six to call me back and then I would stop being pissed and start being worried.
As six o'clock rolled around my heart was sinking fast. I picked up the phone one last time and called Jim's private number. I felt hysterical; if anything happened to Carlos I didn't know what I would do. He was the only thing I had left.
"Commissioner Jim Gordon."
"Jim, my brother, not home yet, really worried." My sentence came out in short fragments. I was beginning to hyperventilate. Jim sighed slowly.
"Cat, listen to me, take a deep breath and hold it, then talk to me. Slow down or I won't understand a word you're saying." He said, his voice calm and professional. I did as he instructed. Inhale. Hold. Release. Talk.
"Jim, Carlos walked to school this morning and he still isn't home."
"Did you call the school to see if he made it there this morning?"
"No, they aren't in right now." I reminded him.
"Shit, okay." He was silent for a moment. "You'll just have to wait it out." He sighed. I felt the color drain from my face.
"Wait. It. Out." I repeated, emphasizing every word… "My brother is missing, he could be in the hands of a psychopath and you want me to wait it out!" I screamed into the phone.
"Cat, stay calm. I'll come over and wait with you." I slammed the phone down and jumped as footsteps echoed behind me. I turned quickly and glared up into the cowl-covered face of Batman.
"What's wrong?" His voice was gruff and gravelly like I remembered.
"My brother's not here!" I screamed in near frenzy. I fell to my knees as things ran through my head, horrible things that could be happening to him. Batman knelt beside me and his hand was on my shoulder.
"When was the last time you saw him?" His voice was calm and low; it almost held a comforting tone to it.
"Early this morning before he left for school." I looked up at him. His now clear hazel eyes surrounded by black met with mine.
"I'll call Gordon if I hear anything…" He stood and took off out the same window through which he had come in to go find my brother.
AN: GUYS what the H happened to all my wonderful reviews... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review... it would make it a merry christmas for me.....:) Thanks once again to my awesome Beta... She's septacular...
