Chapter 4
(Friday morning)
When Terry finally collapsed into his bed, he was thankful to every god in existence that it hadn't taken much pushing from him and Max to convince Dana to have an impromptu sleepover at Chelsea's with Max. Actually, once Terry had informed Max of what was going on, Max had been the one to arrange everything. But then Max always seemed to make things happen.
It wasn't anything surprising, Chelsea was always throwing sleepovers at short notice and enjoy having friends over – she said that it helped to relieve the boredom of being an only child in way which TV and the Net never could.
And while Mr Tan hadn't been keen, he had finally relented when Max told him she would be there and that it was a short notice-all-night-study session for a surprise test tomorrow which they had decided would carry on over the weekend too. No one could say 'no' when Max was determined to make them say 'yes'. Even Bruce. He was wittled down to a 'not likely' or 'possibly'.
Of course, Dana had demanded to know why it was so important that she and Max be anywhere but in their own home over the next few nights and why they weren't allowed to let each other out of sight. And Terry really knew that he was obliged to tell her but had managed to put it off by swearing to tell her after the busy the weekend.
Max thought it was really Batman work, Dana guessed that it was Wayne work again– and they were both right in a way, Terry just didn't want to admit to them that because his foolishness they might be at risks of getting attacked. He was glad both girls trusted him enough to understand that he would only ask if it was serious. Given how often he let them down, he was relived they weren't being too difficult about it.
It had been arranged that Chelsea would drive the girls to and from school and then to her mother's flat in metropolis for the three day weekend – they would both safe and out of Gotham which was the best Terry could do on short notice. Terry had considered requesting the League to keep an eye on them but thought that that might be pushing caution into paranoia and settled to ask either Aquagirl or GL later to do it instead. Both liked him and neither were the sort to push if Batman asked them with confidence and secrecy. At worst they might think he had issues with letting his partner and girlfriend out alone where he couldn't protect them. Maybe he was acting a little too much like Bruce for his own comfort, but at least they would be safe.
Now all Terry had to worry about was Mairyn.
Chang wasn't likely to go after Terry or his family – the man wasn't that desperate yet and if Terry or his family went missing, there would be no covering it up. It would be all over the Net in hours and that just wasn't Chang's style –he was more subtle than that. If things started to go shady with a deal in the middle of a media crisis, there was no doubting that even Bruce would be shut down if the police got suspicious. If Barbara-Mother-Bat-Gordon had any reason to believe either men had something to do with one of her kids disappearing... well, no one ever did see the Joker and Harley Quinn after that one time.
But Mairyn...
Unlike Bruce Terry didn't see her as threat. She was a victim. He liked her -a lot and he considered her to be both his friend and an harmless bystander. Mairyn, he trusted – with his friendship and with his life if it came down to it. Mairyn wasn't the sort of girl to let bad things happen to those around her. No more, at least, than he or Max ever could. In the short time he been around her, everything Bruce had taught him and every trick he'd picked up told him Mairyn could be trusted and that she was a good person. And if he could, he was going to help her get far away from her controlling father. She deserved so much better than a father like that...
Bring...
Bring...
Bring...
'You. Are. Kidding me?' Terry whined despairingly as he pried an eye open. 7:30 am – Damn it. Was he evil in a past life? Did he destroy a few civilisations or start a few world wars? If not, why did the gods hate him? Maybe he should take a leaf from Diana's book and sit down and have a nice long talk with destiny...
Groaning, Terry forced his body to obey his mind and get up and ready for school. Every motive was the same automatic one he had developed and encourage after a few years of late night crime fighting. He kicked his brother's door to make sure Matt was semi-conscious. He hoped this deal was going to be over soon. He didn't want to be doing all nighters stalking his girlfriend and best friend for the rest of his life.
The rest of his very short life. Because Max would kill him. And then maybe Dana would help kill him again.
Then it would be Barbara's and Bruce's turn.
Terry sighed and rubbed his eyes. Well, no one had said Batman was an easy lifestyle – but they had said that it was a thankless job. Terry would settle for a goodnight sleep and stress free night, happily instead.
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(Friday, afternoon)
It's an annoying thing of being a part of a family that you often have to 'contribute to the betterment of others'. Regardless of how it was put, Terry still didn't want pick his bratty brother up from school when he was in the middle of a case. But atlas he didn't have a choice. Not if he wanted to still live in a house with a warm, never used bed and eat his mother's cooking. Or so she said.
"At least the girls are out of town." He muttered, swinging a leg over his bike as he undid his helmet. He loved his bike but he really needed a car. A nice car too - like Chelsea's. A car didn't get you wet and a car let you carry things without getting something sharp poked in his rib cage. Maybe he see if Bruce would stretch to it...pssf. Not a chance.
Both Max and Dana were gone, having bolted school way before the school bell rang on Chelsea's encouragement. They's probable be out of Gotham city limits by now and on their way to Metropolis – Terry would have to remember to stop by the Metro-Tower and see if GL or Aquagirl were willing to help out. He could do that after he sto- um, liberated Mairyn's diary and left it with Bruce to decode.
It was a good thing for Terry that Matt often stayed at the after school clubs -because the primary school finished before him and Matt was even more annoying when he was bored. Much more annoying.
And as Terry was often late picking him up, Matt had joined the Batman Watch Group which Terry didn't think it was half as funny as Max did. But then Max was the same girl who had bought Matt (and herself) a giant stuffed black Bat in the shape of the old Bat-symbol who she had affectionate call 'Baby-Bat'. He was reminded of the 'Stalker Incident' every time he saw Matt with it. Because Matt really was a 'Baby-Bat' to some people...
He wasn't the only one waiting at the gates as small children trailed out in twos and threes, he ended up close to Mrs Jones, Matt's friend Shawn's mum. Terry wondered why he didn't see as much of Mrs Jones as he use too, his mum and her were close old friends and as far as he know they hadn't fallen out...
"Ah Terrance, dearie, how are you?" The woman all but shouted in her thick Irish accent. Terry flinched, no, oh no – how on earth could he have forgotten? Not The Name...He hated being called by his full name.
"Terrance – been busy I hear, always working away at that old manor house, getting your mum all in a state. So tells me, dearie, what's our Lord and Master like then? Huh? I can only imagine what an old house like that is like on the inside – the things I hear Wayne keeps in it! Now dearest, I've been hearing all sorts of things about you, well I don't believe any of them. I mean some of things those people say, disgusting and horrible. I keep telling them, 'I know that boy, Terrance's a good boy, and he'd never do any of the things you're harping on about.' But really Terrance, they're not true are they? Because..."
Oh, yeah, that's was why he and his mum avoided Mrs Jones. As nice a woman as she was, she was also the world's worst gossip and had no tact or sense enough to realise that talking about what people said about his dad's murder or about Mister Wayne wasn't something she was meant to say to their faces. They tried to not hold it against her but it was...hard. Terry didn't want to hear want people said about him and he didn't want his mum to hear it either.
Matt had better hurry up because there was no amount of family duty or money in the world that could make Terry suffer through Mrs Jones' gossip and lectures a second longer that was necessarily polite. No wonder Shawn all but moved into their house on weekends. He must have it worse that Max did with a mum like that.
"Hey Terry, Hi Mum."
"Hello Mrs Jones -oh you're here, I thought you'd forgotten again." Two short black haired, boys appeared, acting for all the world like two non-identical twins. Their antics reminded people of what Terry and Max used to act like at school, being inseparable twin of chaos and mayhem. Nothing had changed then.
Terry swatted Matt lightly over the head, to which the little boy jump and 'glared', "Thanks for the vote of confidence Twit." I could always just leave you here with Mrs Jones, if it wasn't for the fact I know she doesn't think you're old enough to tie you shoes laces never mind actually talk/lecture you.
"Yeah well you're a dreg! – You're always late."
Smack! "Don't swear or I'll tell mum, got it?" Terry just knew he'd get the blame for this, he knew it.
"Oh Mattie dear, how are you?" Mrs Jones gasped as she released her son who flew several feet away, abandoning his best friend/brother to the tender mercies of his mother.
Mrs Jones sweep Matt into her famous killer hugs while Terry quickly sidestepped, happy that he was long gone from the 'cute whittle boy' stage but enjoying Matt's torment none the less. It was certainly something that cheered him up. "I'm fine, Mrs Jones...Really." Matt gasped as she let go, subtly rubbing his ribs. Terry pointedly elbowed him to remind him to play nice – he was the only one to catch the bitter end remark under his breath. He'd be getting the blame for that too.
"Honestly Mattie, its Auntie Anna and you too Terrance, I keep telling you and you two always forget!"
Terry cut in quick before the next speech about how ungrateful they were started, "Sorry Mrs- Auntie Anna, we just don't see you as much now and we don't want to be, like, too rude or anything."
The woman's eyes softened slight, "Oh of course dearies, it doesn't matter. I know how hard thing must be with you after...well, I'm sure your all be keeping very busy, too busy to think much, hum? Now remember, Terrance, you'll be dropping Matthew off at six o'clock, I'll be giving him his dinner. I'd take him now but Shawnie has a dentist appointment and..."
"No, that okay Mr- Auntie Anna, Matt can do his homework until then." He'd just have to talk to Bruce over the phone about Mairyn then. Hopefully his mum would be in sharp and he wouldn't have too. Although why Matt couldn't walk the fifteen minute walk around the corner to Mrs Jones's block confounded Terry completely. He'd probably be expected to walk Matt all the way up to her front door as well.
"Come on Twip, we gotta go. Bye Auntie Anna, Shawn." Terry nodded and handed Matt the spare helmet. Matt waved excitedly at Shawn and Mrs Jones as they clambered into their car.
"Hey Terry, can we stop off at Mister Smoothies? Please!"
"You got money?" Terry grabbed the handles of his bike.
"Yeah!" Matt thrust his hands into his pockets and pulled out a couple of creds. It wouldn't pay for a large cookie but Terry figured he didn't have anything better to do otherwise and it would keep Matt off his back tonight.
"All right but keep close, right? No run up and down like a deranged splicer monkey."
"A splicer monkey? Oh that'd be soooo cool!" Oh god, what had he unleashed?
Terry grabbed Matt's hood and dragged the boy across the street, just to making sure Matt wasn't going to get himself ran over and leave Terry to take the blame. Again. Terry pushed his bike along, as the two walk into the short cut alley between the school road and Mr Smoothie. It would take less time, even if he had to push the bike down it.
Matt danced about him, jabbering on about something or another, doing a rather impressive impression of a deranged splicer monkey. Terry couldn't decide if he was annoyed, amused or just tired, so he said nothing, letting his little brother blow off steam after sitting still for the last seven hours. Mattie hated sitting still as much as Terry did, which must be why interactive classes were always their best subjects. At least it was something that Terry could claim they had in common excluding parentage.
Terry glanced around the alley. It was oddly quiet given that the after school clubs had just finished and Terry knew lots of parents used the short cut home. So where was everyone? Or was it just his imagination?
It had to be, the deal with Chang was messing with his head, making him jumpy over nothing. That and a sleepless night with Bruce harping in his eat about mistrust and double-crossing. If anything was wrong, Matt didn't notice as he gave an enthusiastic retelling of a play ground fight that lunch time between two of his friends. Terry doubted half the moves with physically possible for nine years olds.
"Hey Matt, stick close alright?" The small boy shot Terry an annoyed look but he didn't care. Terry's bat-senses were shrieking and it was hard for him not to slip into bat-mode and a fighting stance.
Terry wondered what Mairyn was doing. Now that he thought about it she hadn't called today like she had promised she would, and Terry was worried about her. He knew Chang wasn't a good guy and certainly a bad father. With the deal going bad for Chang he worried Mairyn was going to get the brunt of Chang's tempter and maybe even hurt.
He knew Chang wasn't abusive but... you could never really tell could you? Batman had taught Terry that things were rarely like how people wanted them to look. After what was in her diary...that changed things. That changed things drastically. Terry knew Bruce had looked into Chang's history, maybe even Mairyn's, so either Bruce wasn't telling him about this or the man didn't know. Which was worse Terry could figure out.
"Hey...Terry?" Matt's whisper made Terry's head snap around. His knuckles, white around the handle of the bike. "Yeah?"
"...where is everyone?"
Hell let loose with a roar and a bang.
There was a clatter of tin on stone and the area burst into purple fog, as the knock out gas expelled. Terry swore, dropping the bike, his bag and grabbed Matt. The small boy screamed but Terry didn't stop, he bolt back the way they came. He pulled his sleeves down and covered Matt's mouth. He just tried to not breathe himself. The Bat instinct took over control in a heartbeat.
No good. Blocked. Alternate exit needed. Damn. Terry spun around.
A man, or several, dressed in black and in gas masks, jumped forwards trying to grab them. Terry put Matt down, his head spinning slightly from the gas and gave over into Batman mode completely. On guard and readying every martial art skill he knew.
"Matt, RUN!" He attacked.
It was basic stuff. Punch, kick, duck, faint, jab. All was as effective as he could give it. More complex stuff chucked into surprise them. They weren't expecting him to know anything. Terry threw everything into it as his little brother darted under the outstretched arms.
Handing trying to catch him. Not going to happen. No one was going to get Matt – over his dead body. Terry's head ach got worse and he started to cough. He didn't stop moving. His reflexes weren't affected or dulled by the gas even as his eyes watered. He was putting good fight to the surprise of the men. He was more than a match for them together – but this wasn't a fair fight.
Bang. A man got hold of him enough to throw him into a group of old trash cans, knock then to the ground and making his chest hurt. Ow,owwwww. That hurt, his ribs...
No, very bad. Knock affect starting. Damn. Faster. Think! Get up!
He staggered to his feet, ribs hurting. He pushed his way thought the gas – it was strong stuff but Terry was more that use to the effects and was fighting harder than ever before. He sunk back into fight mode and lashed out. It only took him twenty seconds to react, to get up and fight back.
It took him even less to realise the truth.
He'd been wrong. A cold, horrified sensual ran over him. Fear. He was wrong. Bruce was wrong. These's weren't opportunist Jokerz or T's. These wasn't gangs or organised thugs. These were professional. Chang wasn't going after the girls; he was after Terry...and Matt. No, Terry wasn't going to let that happen. No. Not Matt. Chang was going to pay for this.
He landed a kick between one of the men's legs and he went down, screaming through the mask. Terry spun around; Matt was gone as far as he could see. His vision as blurring and he was swaying, the purple mist was getting in the way. Another attacked; Terry jumped and aimed at kick at his head. The man grabbed his leg and twisted.
Snap. Pain shot down his leg and Terry fell, hit the ground hand- winded. His eyes watered as he tried to force a pitiful amount of air into his lungs. Pain curled around every bone in his body and bright light flashed in his eyes. Shock, overwhelming.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, Fuck.
He knocked that one out quick, the guy wasn't expecting it. Wasn't expecting a kid with a broken leg to fight back. He leant over the down teen jeeringly. Terry kicked his feet out from under him and broke his jaw in two places. With one punch. He didn't care if he got brutal with these crooks. They'd get a hell lot more if he was able. But he couldn't get up; his leg wasn't holding his weight. Terry grabbed a wall as the world jerk under his good leg – Bad. Very Bad. Gas...damn it...
Terry reached up and touched his nose. Something wet was on his face. Oh, he was bleeding; he didn't even remember the guy landing a hit on his face... A single, terrified scream torn through the mist, and froze Terry's heat, setting his blood on fire. His brain jolted awake again.
Matt. No. NO!
He lurched forwards – Matt. He need... to get to Matt! He stumbled and fell, his legs weren't working properly. His head span, vomit working its way up his throat. No, Matt...needed him...couldn't let anything.
Phone. Yes...he needed to call Bruce...Bruce could help...get Matt...Get the Commish...Help...
Terry forced himself to his knees, body screaming protests. It was most too much- the pain, the injuries, the gas... He couldn't even think...Forgot about the phone...
But if he could get through Bruce –Bloody-Wayne's training routines – he could make the. God. Damn. Call.
He pushed numbing fingers into his pocket and pulled his phone. His vision blurred and he gasped for breath. Shit. Air. His ribs must be hurt, bruised at the least because he couldn't breathe. He grasped, painfully gulping air down. He flicked the phone open and pressed the button. It rang out.
Terry tried to think straight, about what the need to say...
"Bruce..."
Pain exploded out the back of his head and he slumped forwards, unconscious. The phone slid across the ground, silently ringing out. A man stood behind him, body shaking in rage and pain.
"Ghot hym. Bhastard, Kizll Hhpm noaw?" He spat a mouth full of blood out onto the ground, rubbing his broken jaw. He dropped his gas mask on the ground, he didn't need it anymore and besides they had been immunities against this strain. Another limbed over, a small still body over his shoulder.
"No. We've to get both of them. Tell the boss to have the money ready or else."
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Mary glanced at the clock as she stirred the pot.
6:25. It was pasta, Italian style. It was a treat for Terry, given that he had been working so hard over the last few weeks. She knew all about the big deal Mr Wayne was brokering with Chang Enterprises – Terry had told her all about it and she couldn't be more proud with her boy, helping with a big business deal. Warren would have been so happy to see Terry now, acting so mature and grown up. Even if she didn't get to see her not-so-little boy as much anymore, she figured it was just part of growing up. At least she still had Mattie.
Mary sighed and glanced at the clock again. She hoped he would actually come, but he hadn't called to say he was going to Mr Wayne's and he and Matt were gone before she got home. And she had been early too. She hoped Matt had remembered everything, including his tooth brush.
She resisted the urge to call Anna and see if her boys were there and if Terry had left yet. Poor boy was probable unable to escape Anna's clutches. God only knowing Anna couldn't shut up once she got started. Mary chuckled to herself, she was sure Terry would be a little more that horrified if he was stuck in 'Auntie Anna' house. He'd always been awkward around Anna, not wanting to offend one of his mum's few friends and yet still disliking the woman who insisted on using his hated full name. At least she's stopped calling him 'Terry-Berry'. Mary couldn't even think about it as she tried not to burst out laughing.
The house was almost unnervingly quiet but it didn't bother Mary, who was happy for the soothing silence for once. She glanced at the clock, before turning the heat off and moving the hot pot over to the sink. Nearly ready.
Bring, Bring, Bring.
Damn so much for silence. Humming, she grabbed the phone and jammed it under her shoulder so she could use both hands for draining the pasta.
"Hello, McGinnis Household."
"Hiya Mary. Is Terry there?"
Mary frowned as Anna's slight annoyed voice flowed across the phone. Her hands were shaking under the stilled weight of the pot. She stopped in the middle of the floor.
"No, of course not. He's dropping Matt off at your house, isn't he?"
"No, he isn't. I even reminded him to bring him over at six for dinner time, its going cold. Is Mattie there?"
Mary throat when dry and her arms started to shake violently, something moved in her stomach. "He's...not at your house?"
"No, Mary I've already said he isn't...Mary? Mary, are you there?"
She dropped the phone and the pot, not caring about the boiling hot water splashing over the floor or about the pasta mashed into floor as she ran out the room. She burst into her youngest son's room and quickly searched it. She needed...to find it. If it wasn't here, then...well she didn't know but...
She found the overnight bag she'd packed last night under a pile of dirty clothes. She couldn't keep the strangled cry down or the hot tears are pouring down her cheeks. No, no no no... Terry and Matt hadn't left early, they hadn't come home at all. Mattie's school bag wasn't there either, or his coat. She checked Terry's room and none of his stuff was there either.
She jumped to her feet and ran back out the room and into the wet kitchen. She grabbed the phone and hung up on a protesting Anna. She punched into Terry's number and listened.
"This number is busy. Please call back again later."
Came on Terry, this is not the time to be gossiping to Max. Or at least Mary hoped that was what her son was doing. She hung up and tried again. Same thing. She tried again, still disengaged. Mary tried to swallow the sob building in her mouth and brush away the tears. But she couldn't.
Mary knew Gotham. She knew what happened there. She knew what could have happened if her young sons hadn't been seen since four o'clock. It was enough to make her sick, to just think about it. Jokers, T's, the pure amount of sick, pervert nutters that roamed Lower Gotham... She prayed to any god above that Terry had just taken Matt to cheese-Dan's or Max. Please.
She hung up and dialled Max's number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Max, sorry, is Terry there?" She rushed so fast she wondered if Max understood a word.
"Sorry, this is Max's sister. Umm, Terry's not here. In fact, Max's isn't either. She's in Metropolis with friends this weekend. With Dana and that other girl...Chelsea." Oh. That...wasn't good.
"Oh, um, thanks – sorry."
"No problem, Mrs McGinnis. I'll tell Max you called though – Terry too, if he turns up."
The phone went dead and Mary tried to not go hysterical. Tried. She forced herself to breath, and not panic. Just because Terry wasn't at Max's, that Max and Dana wasn't even in town and Terry wasn't answering his phone, didn't mean anything. Really it didn't. It just didn't help her not break down. Trying not to let her voice break, she dialled the only other number she knew that could tell her were her son was. The only number she'd rather not call ever.
"Mr Wayne?" She knew she sound hysterical, "You don't know where my sons are do you? They never came home and..."
Oh dear. That isn't good! :)