Disclaimer: I don't own Batman or the songs.

This chapter is more of the mystery part to the story. You can start guessing who Azrael is. If you get it right I may or may not tell you, but it wouldn't be a mystery if I handed out the answer on a silver platter. You'll see some connection to my first story in my AU, A Question for the Dark Knight. Also, for you die hard fans of the 1960's Batman show, there's a mention of one of those characters in here. Currently, I'm watching all those episodes in order. I'm having a good time with it. Adam West is the man. But Kevin Conroy is BATMAN, just like Mark Hamill is the Joker. Finished the animated series a couple weeks ago. Best show ever! The first three volumes are gold. And I also love the song this chapter is named for. Anyways, enjoy the story.


Azrael had infiltrated the complex with ease and moved swiftly to the elevators. The security guard in the main lobby was completely unaware of his presence; preoccupied with watching old reruns of some mediocre show and stuffing his face full of donuts. Azrael pressed the up button on the wall and waited. The doors opened a second later and he strode inside. Once inside, he pressed the button to the top floor.

Monotonous elevator music was softly playing in the background as the lift climbed higher and higher. Then the elevator began to slow down. Some one was about to get on, yet Azrael made no motion to move.

The doors opened and in stepped a security guard who was making his nightly rounds. Middle age, short, and plump; it would have been easy to take the man out. But Azrael instead climbed out of the elevator's roof hatch and watched as the man pressed the button to the second floor. The lift started moving down, and Azrael made sure to grab the cable as the metal box started to descend. Once the elevator stopped three floors below and Azrael was sure the guard had left the lift, the masked intruder held onto the cable with one hand, and raised his free arm up to the top of the elevator shaft. A large blade shot from his wrist, towing a line with it. It penetrated through the shaft ceiling and expanded into a spider like grapple hook. Azrael then let go of the elevator cable and flew upwards as his wrist recoiled the grapple line.

He stopped when he reached the top floors doors and reached for a button on his belt. The doors gave off electric sparks when he pressed the button and then opened. Azrael swung in through the doors and landed neatly on his feet. The doors closed behind him as he made his way to his destination. The top floor to the building housed the chief executive's office and their personal secretaries. The lights were out on the floor, but the camera's were not. Azrael pressed the button again and, just like the doors, the two camera's monitoring the office doors sparked. To the security guard on monitor duty, it would look like just a short feed cut and then a still image of the floor would show on the screen with the time still going, making sure Azrael's presence remained unknown. The effect would wear off once the masked figure's business was done. Azrael proceeded to walk to and open the CEO office doors.

"You're late," a feminine voice came out of the darkness. Azrael stepped into the room and closed the door. The voice was coming from behind the desk on the far end of the room. The computer chair was facing away from Azrael; turned to look out a wall of expansive windows in view of Gotham City's skyline.

"I apologize. Things took longer than anticipated."

"I see. Did everything do according to plan?"

"The Batman is no longer a concern of ours."

The room was silent for a while until the woman spoke again. "Is he dead?" she asked. Her voice betrayed a hint of remorse.

"I do not know. When I last saw him, he was severely injured to a degree where he will not pose a threat until our plans are complete. If he does not receive treatment soon then he will die."

The woman gave a small sigh. "Then this 'Mr. Freeze' character has served his purpose. He was no match for him as I surmise. Still, he helped us further our goals and to that we owe him our end of the deal. What of Richard Grayson?

"He was no match for me. I ended his pathetic existence without a challenge."

"Excellent." You could hear the smile in her words. "And the Commissioner?"

"I believe he is also dead."

"You have done well."

Azrael bowed in the hidden woman's direction. "Thank you. What of the Ms. Gordon and the doctor?"

"They are taken care of. The doctor is working on the Gordon girl as we speak. Soon she will make the most fitting bride to you. Then, once Dr. Kinsolving is done with her, she will do what she can to save Mrs. Fries."

"I understand."

"Good, now we must move forward to the next phase of the plan. Go and complete your task then return home."

"As you wish..." Azrael turned and headed out of the office. There was still a lot to do.


Robin and Batgirl had entered through the west entrance to the hospital instead of the north, where all the police officers were. They moved through the hallways without a sound, lead by the beacon tracker in Tim's hands. Dick's signal was coming from the floor above them; there was little doubt that there were two officers posted at the door. They needed to find some way to get to Dick without being caught. From the vital signs shown on the tracker, Dick had some severe injuries, and from all the blood and corpses of doctors and nurses, the best hope Dick had in this hospital was the medical examiner. The two heroes needed to hurry if they were going to save their teammate and older brother.

The elevators were not an option as they were surrounded by officers, so the only way for Robin and Batgirl to reach Dick quickly was by taking the stairs.

The stairwell was a bleak looking area. The florescent lighting gave off a creepy vibe and the color of the walls were a dirty off white. Robin was feeling more and more vulnerable with each step he took. He looked at Batgirl and could see the subtle hints of nervousness in her movements. There were not enough shadows to hide in and even their muted steps echoed through the stair well. Some officers still did not like the fact that Gotham had a team of heroes looking out for it. They saw Batman and his allies as freaks and criminals who just brought in more masked freaks into the city. Nothing had happened yet for those officers to go against the Bat Family, but from what Batgirl and Robin had seen here tonight, anything could happen. Police never took it well when one of their own was killed, and things like that could cause trouble.

They reached the door to the second floor without any problem despite their uneasy feelings. Batgirl gently opened the door just a crack and pulled out an optic cable from her utility belt. She fed the camera around the corner of the door to get a good look on what was on the other side. Lucky for them; there was no one in sight. Batgirl replaced the device on her belt and motioned for Robin to follow her. They moved swiftly along the hallways; making sure to keep in the shadows. They were just at the intersection to get get to where Dick was, and as expected, they saw from around the corner that their were two guards posted; obviously SWAT by their uniforms. Robin gave some hand signs and Batgirl nodded. The two then went their separate paths, Batgirl heading to Dick's room and Robin going to look for any kind of clue to what happened here. He would catch up once he looked over one of the many crime scenes; he to see if he could get some clue as to knowing who did this and what they were up against.


Harvey Bullock had been interrogating Boxy Bennett for the last half hour; however, the fruits of his labor went without any rewards. "I know ya know something Boxy, so spill it!"

"For the last time Bullock, I said I don't know anything!

The detective grabbed Boxy by his collar and pulled the crime boss out of his chair. "And I say you do know somethin'. Nothin' goes on in this city without you's knowin' about it. So talk!"

"I got nothing to say, ya big oaf, so put me down! This suit is worth more than anything you could afford on a flatfoot salary!" Bullock shoved him into the chair.

"Don't play games Boxy!"

"I told you I don't know what your talking about!"

"I'd be willin' to believe that if you weren't such a lying dirt bag! Is one of your little pals getting off whacking badges and MD's?" Bullock threw his chewing toothpick on the ground. "Maybe your coverin' up for the guy."

"What?"

"You heard me, I think your hidin' somebody! Who is it! 'Tough Tony' Bressi? The Squid? Louie the Lilac!"

"Who the hell is Louie the Lilac!"

"Aha! It was Louie wasn't it! Fess up!"

"You've got a screw loose, Bullock! I ain't hiding no one!"
"I can wait all night if I have to, Boxy!"

"Well good cause I have no place to be! You've ruined me again, Bullock! No one's gonna come to my club now that you flatfoot's know where it is."

"Aw, that's too bad." Bullock said mockingly. "But you won't be goin' any place until I get some answers."

"Then we're gonna be here all night, cause I know nothing!"


"Bruce, speak to me." Catwoman was holding the Batman's head in her lap. She had taken off her goggles and hood to let her long blonde flow freely. She had done the inspection already. His body was cut up bad from the ice shards. They tore through the suit easily and were like broken glass when they cut the skin. The lacerations were all over his body; his chest alone looked looked like a canvas covered in red and it was growing darker by the second.

"Bruce, come on. Wake up. Please wake up." The Batman had did not move and his eyes remained closed. "Bruce. I can't lose you. You have to get up."

Her mind was playing the worst case scenario over and over again. Without the Batman there would no point in continuing as Catwoman. She could not go out knowing that no one would be beside her; to catch her when she falls; to keep her warm and dry when the rain came down. No. Without the Batman, the Catwoman would be no more. But what of Selina Kyle?

Selina knew she could never move on if she lost Bruce. She could never fall in love with someone else.

'Bruce, please get up' she pleaded in her mind. 'I don't want to be alone. I can't take care of everyone by myself. I...I can't raise a child...our child without you. Bruce, our baby needs a father and I need my mate, so please wake up.'

Selina closed her eyes and the welled up tears finally fell. The tears ran down her cheeks as she hugged her lover's head tighter. Everything was quiet around them with only the soft sobs of Catwoman. In the distance, sirens and other vehicle sounds could be heard, but they went unnoticed.

Suddenly, a soft grunt broke the silence and Catwoman looked down to see the Batman's eyes slowly opening.

"...Selina..." His voice was faint. He had lost so much blood that it startled her when he moved to look at her.

"Bruce," she said back to him. Her tears of sadness quickly turned to tears of joy and she smothered him in a hug.

"...can't...breath..."

She loosened her embrace immediately. "Sorry."

"What happened?"

She wiped the tears from her eyes. "You got your ass kicked. I thought the Batman was supposed to be prepared for anything." She smiled at him.

"Didn't think I would have to deal with Mr. Freeze tonight. How is he?"

"Frozen. Should be for the next couple of hours."

"Good. Then it will be easier for the police to take him back to Arkham. What about Batgirl and Robin?"

"They radioed in just a few minutes ago. They made it to the hospital without a problem."

The Batman gave a small nod, then began to try and get up. "Oh no you don't. Your in no condition to be getting up. I already activated the little transmitter and Alfred should be here soon."

"Then why are you crying?"

"I didn't think you were going to make it till he got here."

"I always do. I think I have some good luck every time a certain black cat crosses my path."

Selina raised an eyebrow. "You call this good luck?"

"I'm alive aren't I?"

"Yes you are, but if I ever see you run into a fight with some super villain without back up, I swear you won't be."

"Duly noted."

A car soon pulled up next to the couple and the Wayne butler stepped out.

"Good heavens, sir. Every time I have to come and retrieve you, your a bloody mess; no pun intended." Alfred and Selina helped the Batman to his feet.

"Thanks Alfred. Don't know what I'd do without you."

"Indeed, Master Bruce. Doctor Tompkins is already back at Wayne Manor and we'll have you stitched up in no time at all." Alfred and Selina finally got Bruce situated in the back seat of the Rolls Royce. "Lets try not to stain the upholstery this time, sir. Blood stains are quite difficult to get out."

"I'll try Alfred, but I make no promises."


Robin was looking over one of the bodies that had not been inspected by the medical examiner yet. She was a young nurse, probably just out of med school. From first inspection of the body's position, Robin could tell she did not know what hit her until it was too late. Her shocked expression confirmed that information. A single thrust of a blade to the throat. The cut itself told that the weapon was much larger than a knife or any other common blades. The depth of the wound meant that there was power behind the attack. That could possibly mean a katara, a type of push dagger from India, was used; however, the precision of the blows would rule that out. A katara was not easy to hold onto for an extended fight, or in this case massacre.

Robin continued to look around. No footprints were made, which seemed odd accounting for all the blood on the floor. Looking up to the wall, the Boy Wonder saw a bullet hole in the drywall. Taking a small cutting tool from his utility belt, he carefully cut around the hole and dug out the bullet. He cleaned away the powder remnants of the wall and held the slug up to his eyes. It came from the standard police issue Glock. On closer inspection, a discoloration on the bullet caught his eye. Blood. Probably from whoever did this. Robin retrieved a evidence bag and dropped the bullet in and tucked it away. Hopefully he would be able to use the Bat Computer to figure out who attacked the hospital. Now he could catch up with Batgirl and get Dick to proper medical attention. Then they would get whoever did this no matter what.


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