Author's Note: I have a new story! NCIS story. I woke up, at like 2 in the morning with ideas for the new story and stayed up till like 6 AM writing this chapter and the other ones. Tell me if this is too cliche, I feel like it is :/
Chapter 6Quote of the chapter: "Are you crazy, Alfred? A teenager? If she finds my secret? No possibility I could hide being Batman from her."
Where will I find a guardian in time? Jenna wondered to herself, her head lolled to her left side, staring out the window which had a good view of a fire escape and an alley. Wonderful.
Jenna couldn't remember any relatives mentioned by her mother or father. Was there not an Aunt Lilly? Or maybe it was, Aunt Sally?
Her mother was the only person Jenna knew that was from the same blood line and in contact-reach. Remembering a dreaded part of 2 days ago, horror twisted Jenna's face. Her mother! Had the police found her?!
Sobs ransacked her body harshly as Jenna cried loudly. Acting almost immediately, the doors to Jenna's hospital room flew open and a nurse came rushing in, her gown flying behind her.
"Ma'am, is anything wrong, does anything hurt?" The nurse asked quickly, holding Jenna's shaking body down. Jenna tried to form words with her mouth, but the sobs swallowed them out.
Panicking, the nurse didn't know what to do. Acting on her impulse, the young nurse called in more doctors and nurses, her voice shaking slightly.
It wasn't long before about ten different hospital employees were gathered around Jenna's bed, holding her down and trying to sooth her. Alas, this didn't help Jenna's mental break down.
"James Gordon." Jenna told them in between her sobs. One of the doctors, not wanting to deal with this right now, pulled out a tranquilizing needle and shot the liquid in through Jenna's upper arm, calming her at once. Once her bodies feel limp and eyes shut, the doctor walked out of the room, ready for his lunch break.
James Gordon stood outside the office of Harvey Dent, the man running for DA. Rachel Dawes was standing an ears-shot away from him, conversing with her friend, Gotham's playboy as almost everyone knew him, Bruce Wayne.
Gordon tapped his foot several times out of impatience. Crime was a major factor out in Gotham, he and many other officers were needed for every minute of their shift. He didn't have time to wait around for Harvey Dent to finally see him.
The ringing of his cell phone startled the Police Officer. Flipping it open, he held it to his ear, "James Gordon."
"Hello, Sir," A woman's voice floated form the device, "I'm Nurse Ronda, calling from Gotham's Central Hospital, we have a patient here, wanting to see you."
Gordon's eyebrows arched in confusion as a wave of exhaustion swept through him, "Patient in the hospital wants to see me?" Rubbing his forehead, Gordon sighed. The sleepless nights and extra shifts were starting to take their toll on him. Especially with Gotham's new criminal on mind. But hopefully Gordon could put that aside, Batman would deal with the new unraveling master-mind.
"Yes sir, the patient you were with yesterday-" Gordon cut the nurse off, realization hitting him, "You mean, Miss Jennalyn Marie Greene?"
Bruce Wayne's head shot up to look at Gordon. Jennalyn Greene? Wasn't that the girl he as Batman had brought into the hospital?
Flashback
"The girl is in the hospital, Alfred." A tired Bruce Wayne said, taking off his Batman mask and slumping down in the chair.
The older butler gasped; "Good god. Did she mention anything about her mother?"
Bruce shook his head, "Her mother is incapable of looking after the girl for another 4 months; she and Gordon are working out something, foster care of some sort."
This time, Alfred stopped tending to Bruce's wounds. "Poor girl." Alfred really seemed to be living this through along with the girl.
There was a silent pause before Alfred spoke up again, "You could take her in."
Bruce looked up at the man in front of him in shock, "Are you crazy, Alfred? A teenager? If she finds my secret? No possibility I could hide being Batman from her." What was he thinking? Bruce thought to himself. Debating weather or not it was just his butlers old age speaking.
Alfred cleared his throat, "Master Wayne, think about it. Both she and you are suffering. Even if she does find out your other identity," he gestured towards the bat suit with his hands, "Do you not think she will keep it to herself? Think about it, from what you have told me, this girl has had plenty of big secrets of her own. She has been through it. What makes you think she wouldn't keep this one?"
The silence of his master proved Alfred right; Bruce had silently agreed to what Alfred had just said.
"In addition Mr. Wayne, you do need someone close to you so both of you can depend on each other... considering both of you are in a similar situation." Alfred continued, cleaning Bruce's wounds with a cloth dabbed in alcohol.
"And what situation would that be, Alfred?" Bruce asked him hoarsely, his head in his hands.
A bittersweet smile twisted Alfred's lips, "Miss Dawes."
Flashback End
Jenna groaned and opened her eyes only to see a blur. Blinking several times, she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and then opened them quickly. Everything came into focus, and the invisible fog vanished.
There, standing in the doorway, was Officer Jim Gordon in his full work uniform, his face completely placid and eye's dull. Jenna straightened herself up, "Officer." She nodded in greeting.
Gordon nodded back and started forward, "You wanted to see me?"
Upon hearing this, Jenna flushed, "Uh-uhm-ye-well-I-uh" she stuttered, completely and utterly baffled. Taking a deep breathe, she tried again. "Yes, officer. I'm very sorry for keeping you from doing your duty." Her voice was even and stiff, like a child that was taught how to apologize politely by their mother.
Jim waved it off, grabbing a chair for the back of the room and dragging it by Jenna's bed before settling down on it and leaning forward with his arms clasped together.
Before he had a chance to say something, Jenna beat him to it. "My mother." She said in a rush, the two words sounding like one.
Gordon nodded and hung his head. "The police were un-able to find your mother," He told her. Jenna felt her body stiffen and fear run through every douse in her body. Her throat swelled up. "But-," Gordon continued, looking up at Jenna with some sparkle and hope in his eyes, "An acquaintance of mine did."
Sighing from the numbing relief that washed over her, Jenna leaned back and rested. The relief that hit her had made her body feel weak. Only after a few calming minutes did she realize what he said. "Batman?" She whispered softly under her breathe.
The corners of Gordon's mouth twitched, answering Jenna's question.
Bruce Wayne strolled into the hospital. Knowing exactly where the girl's room was due to his Batman activities the night before, He took the elevator to the second floor. Thoughts ran through his head like a tornado while he reminded himself exactly why he was here.
After Alfred's answer that night; Bruce seemed to have been in his own world, thinking. It finally had hit him when he was talking previously with Rachel that Alfred was right.
The kiss Rachel had gave him the day they were standing on his burned down mansion was a kiss he never felt so strongly; it was exotic. And every second of it, he wished it would last longer; that he would get to kiss her like that every day and run his hand over her cheek, feeling the soft and smooth skin of her flesh he longingly wanted to plant kisses all over. Even though deep inside he knew he wouldn't, no matter how much he wished he could. He would never get to do that.
And now, Rachel has shown that she has moved on in a relationship with Gotham's Harvey Dent. Every time Bruce had watched them together, he would feel his heart sink lower. She smiled and laughed in a way she never had smiled ever before when around Bruce himself.
Part of Bruce felt like wanting to clench up his fists and hit Harvey out of the way. But then a bigger part of him felt happy for Rachel; a bittersweet happiness. Bruce knew it would come to this. He would never be able to set a stable family with the woman he loved. His nocturnal habit- As Alfred had once put it- would always get in the way. He could stop being Batman, of course he could. But would he? No. He was addicted. At first, Batman was just something to avenge his parents, a mere nightly activity he meant for to be undiscovered; then it had sunk in deeper into him, until it reached his soul. Now Batman is a part of Bruce, the other side. It has sunk in and became part of him; blending in with his soul and normal life. Now it controlled him. It was part of his everyday life. To the people of Gotham, he was Bruce Wayne. At night, he was Batman. And at home with Alfred, he was just Bruce.
Walking down the bright hallways of the hospital, Bruce flashed a smile in the range of his playboy attitude to all the nurses that giggled at him. Some even whispered things that made Bruce want to roll his eyes.
Taking the last step needed, Bruce was standing in front of the hospital room of Miss. Jennalyn Marie Greene. Standing to the side, he ran his hand through his hair. His thoughts roamed over what he would be doing once again. It seemed like a bad choice to him; taking this girl in.
Moving slightly towards the window with hands in his pockets; Bruce laid his gaze on the girl's face. His eyes narrowed slightly as he analyzed her. A worried expression was evident on her face. Her hair was a tangled mess, resting in a pulled back messy bun with tons of other hair pieces fallen out. Her eyes were a darker green color with some grey that covered them.
Studying the teenage girl in front of him, Bruce started getting frustrated with himself. Why he was putting so much thought in this he did not know, and a voice at the back of his mind had kept constantly asking that. Why was he even putting so much thought into this? Taking in a teenager was ridiculous. But could she really be the cure for him? And would he really be the cure for her? Would they really support each other?
These questions becoming too much for him, Bruce pulled one of his hands out of his pocket and rested it above his head on the glass. Luck not being on his side this day; the action has caused a banging sound to emerge. Flashing in instant panic, all of his thoughts vanished in a cloud. Bruce reacted quickly, pulling his hand off the glass and taking a leap to the side, out of the sight of Gordon and the girl; letting out a huge sigh knowing that they had not seen him. Maybe being Batman did have its advantages for Bruce Wayne at times.
"How are the guardian arrangements going?" Officer Gordon had asked Jenna.
Sighing slightly, Jenna's forehead creased as her eyebrows pulled together. To be honest, she had not thought about that. That is, she had put some thought into it. But it all winded up to the beginning anyway; causing her to give up. She would not go to any of the Doctors here, and that included Dr. Jamestone and Nurse Sandra. To think that Dr. Jamestone and Nurse Sandra were just two out of many of the employees at the hospital that had showed care for Jenna. It may have appeared they were close, but to Jenna they were just people trying to help, and she had come across a lot of those people. The thing was, she didn't need those people. If she could, Jenna would just feel better to close herself up completely, ignoring all contact to the world.
She never let anyone in past her barriers, and nothing could chance that. Especially the conditions now. Gordon had told her that her mother was taken into the hospital for care when found- During Jenna's full 2 day sleeping lag- and sent to an asylum right after. This angered Jenna. An asylum? Her mother was not crazy; she was not one of those psychos that go on killing sprees when they are bored; and yet, she would be locked up with them. Hearing that, Jenna felt a lump in her throat. Right then and there, she had made a silent promise to herself. No matter whose guardianship she would be in- or where, she would always visit her mother. Everyday… 2 times a day. Maybe even 3 at the least.
Her mother was the person Jenna had. And she would not let her pass on leaving Jenna in this world alone.
A sudden tapping sound on the window broke Jenna out of her thoughts. Turning her head to sense out who or what made that noise, Jenna's eyes saw nothing but a window that showed the nurses occasionally passing by the halls of the hospital.
Gordon looked back to her, standing up. "Well, Miss Greene, I have to get going." He turned to leave, "Oh, and, remember to inform me on the guardian issue." He told her sternly, reminding her of a father scowling his child.
Jenna bit back her tears and nodded. After the door shut behind Gordon, Jenna pulled her legs up to her knees. Would she even get out of this?
Gordon walked out of the room; shutting the door lightly after him. Adjusting his glasses; Jim heaved a sigh. It always saddened him to see children with no families. He wished he could take them in; but if he took in every child… he'd end up as the old man living in a shoe.
Looking up from the floor, Gordon's eyes focused on Bruce Wayne. "Hello, Mr. Wayne."
Bruce looked up at him with one of his lazy playboy smiles on his face. "Officer Gordon."
"Visiting someone?" Gordon asked casually.
Bruce nodded; "Oh yes. A friend of mine for college. Small accident." Peeking behind the officer's shoulder, Bruce rose an eyebrow in fake confusion, "Family member in an accident?"
Gordon sighed, "No no no." His face turned grim again, "Just a girl that I am in charge with."
Bruce's mouth formed a small 'o'. "What happened?" He inquired playing dumb, even though he knew every detail.
Gordon sighed and ran his hand over his face, "Poor girl's mother is incapable of being a guardian; being 17 and a half, she has 6 months left, and in that time needs a guardian."
Gordon paused upon seeing Bruce's curious thinking face, "A guardian, hm?"
Gordon was cut shot from saying something back as he heard the familiar beeping of his pager, '911' it read as his eyes scanned over the small screen.
His body tensed up, and his hand rested on the gun in his belt, he was already starting forward, "Sorry, Mr. Wayne. Duty calls."
Bruce nodded and turned back to look through the glass into the patient's room as Gordon rushed out of the hospital; asking himself once more the question he had inquired over this past day, "Why the hell was he doing this?"
Jenna twirled her fingers and kept un-doing and re-doing her hair, humming a calming song that her mother had always hummed in the kitchen.
Although, it didn't exactly come out calming. The stress and nerves had come over Jenna, making her hum the song at a faster, uneven pace.
She heard the door open but was afraid to raise her eyes and look up. Hearing someone clear their throat her eyes gave in and raised only to see Gotham's playboy standing in the doorway.
