Chapter 4

Chloe returns to her hotel room for some more sleep figuring she will be up all night again. Stretching as she wakes, she sees it's nearly 3 in the afternoon. Getting up and into a nice hot shower, Chloe runs her clues over again in her mind. By the time she is dressed she has developed a plan on how to prove her theory. That plan is promptly blown to pieces when she goes to answer the knock at her door and sees Bruce standing there with flowers. Cautiously opening her door, she says "Can I help you?"

"Since Oliver is indisposed, I thought I could keep you company. I wouldn't be able to live with my self if I left such a lovely woman to dine all alone. What are you in the mood for?" he says. There is heavy suggestion in the way he asks what she is in the mood for.

"Don't waste anytime swooping in do you?" she inquires crossing her arms defensively. "If he wants to play games so can I." she thinks.

"When I want something, I go after it." he answers flirtishily but with such intensity in his eyes she steps back. Seeing her reaction, his eyes glass over and his expression loses the intensity.

Deciding to play along, she answers "Sure, what did you have in mind?"

She is stunned when their cab pulls up outside a rundown tiny hole in the wall Italian place which is no where near Gotham's Little Italy. "Going all out aren't you." she snarks.

"Oh I think you find things are not always as they appear on the outside." he comments.

"Gottcha." Chloe triumphantly thinks.

Dinner is very good if simple. Chloe actually prefers the simple food over the complexity of say French cooking. This place serves comfort food which is exactly what she needed. "Did he read that off me or just get lucky?" she wonders as they share small talk. Chloe is surprised to find herself having a nice time. Bruce is very charming and more real than she expected. She expected him to be pawing at her all night but instead he has shown amazing insight into workings of Gotham and business in general. This only further supports "he is Batman theory" but it also confuses her. "Why isn't he trying harder to keep up his act? What is he up to?" she has to wonder. As much as she would never admit this aloud she can see how so many women fall into his bed. There is an amazing mind behind the playboy exterior.

Instead of grabbing another cab, Bruce suggests they walk a bit since it is such a nice night. Chloe is a bit dubious as this isn't the nicest part of town but she isn't worried as she knows he will protect her.

"Hey, it's Batman." Bruce shouts pointing up where several people are already looking. Sure enough Batman is standing on top of a nearby building with his cape billowing out behind him. He casts his shadow over the area before disappearing.

Chloe looks up and then at Bruce. For a moment she kicks herself for thinking Bruce could be Batman, but then she remembers what Clark and Oliver did to convince Lois Oliver wasn't the Green Arrow. "Clever Bruce. Very clever." she mentally applauds.

Bruce has gotten very good at watching people without them knowing he is so he catches Chloe's reaction. "Damn, she's not convinced. Have to up the anti, but not tonight. Too obvious." Bruce notes.

Bruce finds he is enjoying himself more than he has in a long time. Chloe is a very bright young lady with an impressive amount of wisdom for someone so young. It is a challenge to keep his defenses in place. It is clear he made the right choice by dropping his playboy act. He can see the confusion in her eyes as she tries to figure out his ploy. She is set up nicely for his plan two nights from now. He feels a tiny bit of remorse for misleading her but he reminds himself it is for the best.

When Bruce drops her off at her apartment, she finds she is a bit hurt he doesn't ask to come in but reminds herself this is all an act. None of it is real. "It figures the best date I've had in years and it's not even real. Typical in my life." Chloe mutters as she gets ready for bed. She had planned on working a bit tonight but changed her mind when she notices just how late it is.

A few days later:

"Sorry Watchtower. It looks like your instincts were wrong on this one." Oliver taunts as he plops the morning paper down. Front and center is a picture of Bruce hiding under a table with a split shot of Batman tying up a robber.

Studying the picture Chloe is confused. "I was so sure." she mumbles. "If this was another setup why do it when I wasn't there? It seems an awful long way to go." she muses.

"He wasn't even the center of attention there. According to the article, Bruce had stopped in for a late supper and was drinking himself silly when this guy came in to rob the place. As soon as the man pulled his gun Bruce threw him his wallet and slipped under his table. This caused the man to laugh and play peek a boo with Bruce until Batman showed up. According to witnesses, a Batarang sailed in to disarm the thug and then a cable wrapped around him and pulled him into the night. The patrons only caught glimpses of Batman but there were plenty of people in the street who got a good look as he hung up the thug for the police. Bruce didn't come out until the police showed up. Bruce grabbed his wallet back and left. He was clearly angry and embarrassed. Look you can see it on his face in this shot right here." Oliver explains with a certain glee as he holds up the picture for Chloe to see. Bruce was always too sure of himself in college.

Chloe finds herself feeling sorry for Bruce. The man in these photos seems so unlike the one she dined with. Thinking for a minute she realizes that perhaps not. "Bruce freaks out in the presence of guns!! The poor man must still be traumatized from his parent's murder!!" Bruce isn't hiding a dark secret. He is just hiding. No wonder he gets drunk so much when he has to be out in public. He can't stand being out." she explains.

Sympathy creeps into Oliver's face as her words hit home. Memories of the pain he felt at the loss of his parents resurface forcing him to recall a moment when he almost succumbed to his sorrow and fear. He can see how if he had allowed it to swallow him, he could have ended up like Bruce. "My god you're right. He only has his butler Alfred to look after him. No one else ever stays in his life very long." Oliver exclaims.

She realizes now that he wasn't being the playboy with her because he figures she is with Oliver. It must have been the first time in a long time he could be himself out in public. He didn't have to worry about any expectations from her because she was taken by someone almost as rich as he is. No wonder he was so eager to spend time with her. Filled with sympathy, Chloe calls Wayne Enterprises since she doesn't have Bruce's number and leaves a message for Bruce to call her. She phrased her message trying her best to let him know it would be nice to hang out again but she dropped several Oliver comments in to let him know she isn't trying to trade up. She hopes he will call. No one should be alone. She knows all to well how horrible that feels.

Bruce is surprised to find a message from Chloe among his messages. His secretary didn't comment on it but it does explain her amused smirk. She probably figures Chloe is another conquest of his whom he didn't even bother to give his number to. Just one more one night stand in playboy Bruce Wayne's life. It's odd but it bothers him to give anyone that impression of Chloe. She is many things but a cheap one night stand isn't one of them. Oliver is a lucky man. Curiosity driving him, he calls the number she left.

"Hello." her voice sings out of the phone.

Pausing for a second, Bruce answers "Hi. It's Bruce. What can I do for you?"

"Oh Bruce good to hear from you. Oliver's going to be laid up for a few more days, and I was hoping you could show me some more of Gotham. Oliver needs to rest and I need to get out of here for a bit." she explains.

Sensing something different in her voice Bruce's guard goes up but his curiosity causes him to reply "Sure. Why don't I pick you at the hospital in two hours?"

"No need for you to come over here. I can meet you at your office. See you in two hours." she answers and hangs up before he can disagree. She feels she should make an extra effort to make up for thinking he is Batman.

When she gets there, his assistant apologizes, but informs her that Bruce had to run out unexpectedly. Pacing while a bit confused Chloe tries to not take it too personally. Bruce is well known for showing up late to everything. He probably forgot something important and in his rush forgot to let her know. She stands at the window a bit gloomy all of a sudden. She was looking forward to tonight more than she realized. While she loves the guys, it is nice to spend time someone out of the hero business, to just be normal for awhile.

Noticing her brooding, Bruce's assistant, Alicia, comes over to stand next to her. She is nervous, as evidence by her wringing her hands, about something which becomes clear when she speaks. She says "Just between us girls. He does this a lot. He lets you think he likes you and then he just blows you off till you get the hint. Don't tear yourself up. Just walk away. He isn't worth it."

Chloe starts to turn from the window to answer when she sees a light flashing on a nearby cloud. The symbol of a Bat is crystal clear on the cloud backdrop. "Oh I think I have a good idea of who Bruce is." "That bastard actually had me buying his act. He is good but so am I." she thinks. Seeing the sympathy in Alicia's eyes Chloe adds "Thanks though."

With a slight shake of her head Alicia replies "Sure" as she heads back to answer a ringing phone on her desk. Chloe knows that look haven given it to many of the women who thought Oliver could actually love them.

Chloe doesn't storm out of Wayne Technologies but she does march quickly. She has to give Bruce credit. He had her completely buying his act. "He is so going to pay for that. Wait why am I so angry? Bruce is just protecting his identity the way Clark and Oliver do. He is just better at it. Perhaps it is because she is tired of being lied too? No that's not fair. Lies are a part of this world. So why?" she wonders as she hails a cab.

The cab can only get her to within 4 blocks of the action but that is close enough for her to run the rest of the way. Once again Oliver insisting on including her in the team's training exercises pays off. She is in the best shape of her life. Seeing Gordon she glides through the crowd until she is right next to him. "So what's happening?" she inquires.

Turning to face her Gordon shows a bit of surprise at seeing her but covers it quickly. "Police business" he replies as he sips his coffee trying to appear casual despite the fact several blocks are cordoned off and half of Gotham's police force is here. A serious of small explosions draws their attention to a figure running across a rooftop. Police snipers and police helicopters are trying to herd the figure toward a group of waiting officers but he keeps using flash bombs and other gizmos to throw them off him. Still it is clear he is penned in. Bright spot lights cover every inch of the building and its neighbors giving Batman nowhere to hide.

"I told you I'd get him." Detective Bullock boasts to Commissioner Gordon.

"I'll believe it when he's in a cell downtown." Commissioner Gordon answers. The tension between these men is clear. Obviously they feel very different about Batman.

Realizing Bullock just might succeed, Chloe slips away. She doesn't have much on her that can help but she does have an idea. Finding a man hole, grunting with effort she pulls the cover off and drops down. "God I hate sewers." she mutters as she searches for what she needs. It only takes a minute before she finds the city power grid access point. Flipping open her laptop, she runs her hack and breaks into the system in a few seconds. She hopes she will be quick enough as gunfire makes it clear Batman is almost out of time. A few quick commands later and the whole block goes dark. Peering out the man hole she can see her actions have had the desired results.

Bruce kicks himself for not being more cautious. He knows how much pressure Jim is under and he should've been suspicious when he saw the Bat Signal. Unfortunately fear that someone as bad as the Joker had made Jim desperate enough to use the signal had Bruce rushing to his friend. Bruce has to hand it to the Police. This trap is a good one. He can't see any way out of it without hurting at least a few officers. Suddenly the spots tracking him along with all the surrounding building lights go out. While the 2 helicopters try to swing back around to keep him in their spotlights, he gains the few seconds he needs to change direction. He glides between two buildings and then repels out the side. The helicopters can't follow in the confines and without power the Police on the ground and surrounding rooftops have lost track of him. A few minutes later Bruce is clear of the trap and catching his breathe hidden in an alcove 30 stories up. He owes someone for the rescue. Perhaps Gordon arranged it to give him a chance?

"Damn !$!$$!!%!$!%!%!" Bullock storms. "We had him!!" he adds as he throws his coffee to the ground in frustration. When his coffee cup hits the ground, it splashes coffee out of the cup covering his shirt and pants.

Knowing laughing would only provoke Bullock further, Gordon restrains himself. He only comments "See what I have been dealing with. The Batman is tricky." "I may have to put up with you for now but when you can't catch him either you'll be gone. This city needs Batman." Gordon happily thinks to himself.