Selina walked, as fast as she could without running, through Wayne Manor's gardens. She ripped off the white adornments on her dress until she no longer looked like a maid and was simply a woman at the party. The night was nearing its end as all the speeches were now done and everyone was on their way to getting thoroughly drunk on the bubbly champagne. Selina deposited her trash behind a bush and snuck into part of the garden that was not in use.

The moon shone down on the garden and all the plants covered in dew seemed to glitter. Selina thought of Bruce and wondered if he was still lying on the floor with that dumb look on his face. She smiled to herself. She'd have to thank Bane for the amusing night. Seeing Bruce Wayne helpless, with his mouth gaping open in shock, was priceless. She looked back at the Manor. From what she could see the mansion was mostly dark except for a few windows lit up in the east wing. A part of her felt sorry for Bruce. He was so alone despite having every material thing at his disposal. Her hand fell on her new pearls, stroking them. Selina felt guilty and ashamed of them. She nearly tore them off. His dead mother's pearls. Selina must have stolen hundreds of sentimental things in her lifetime. Why should she care now?

She turned away from any regret she felt and continued on her walk until she reached the fence surrounding the Wayne property. Selina carefully hauled herself over, but not without tearing her dress. It didn't matter, she didn't plan on wearing this matronly thing ever again. Selina slipped off her shoes and walked along a little further. She liked the feeling of the grass between her toes. Eventually she found her motorcycle where she had left it behind a tree. She rummaged through her backpack and made a quick change into her cat-suit. She didn't hesitate as she threw her maid's outfit far way into some nearby bushes. Good riddance. She left the pearl necklace on even though it clashed terribly with her outfit. Pearls and leather she thought with a laugh. But she didn't want to lose it. Selina reached back into her backpack but paused as her hand wrapped around cold, hard metal. She sighed as she withdrew the gun. It was a small silver pistol that fit her palm perfectly. The gun was custom made and was encoded to only work in her hand. She quickly hid it in her belt. She had never had to use a gun before, but where she was going she just might need it.

That thought made her stop as she straddled her bike and put on her helmet. Where was she going anyways? Selina had an appointment to meet with Daggett when the job was done. He was appointed as the middle man between her and Bane. She would give Daggett the fingerprints and in turn he would give them to Bane. But Selina knew from the past that deals like this rarely turned out the way they were meant to. She didn't like Daggett. His beady little eyes reminded her of a rat. He was loyal to himself above everyone else and there was no way she was getting screwed over. Especially if Bane was involved. She shivered as she remembered Bane's hand around her neck. She wouldn't be put in that position again.

She revved the engine as she made her decision. Selina would go directly to Bane. It wouldn't be too hard to find him. Everyone on the street knew he lived in the sewers in Midtown. This way she could guarantee that Bane would get Wayne's prints. And then she would be free of Bane once and for all.


Alfred tried to escort Bruce to bed but he refused. He may walk like an old man, but that didn't mean he had to go to bed early like one. He sat and just looked at the safe for a while. Bruce looked and looked at it but he never touched it. The guy who had designed it said the safe was impossible to break into. Turned out he was wrong. Bruce was tempted to go search for the guy's phone number and demand his money back. Then he noticed the light dusting of powder on part of the safe. "Sneaky little…" he said to himself. She wasn't here to steal the necklace, she had been dusting for prints! Not only did that woman (Alfred said her name was Maria MacAlister) steal the only thing he had left of his mother, but she also stole his fingerprints!

Bruce's melancholy turned to rage as he slowly stood up. The movement was painful, especially on his knees. If only he was younger, Bruce thought as he walked to his piano and played a few notes. One of the bookshelves slid aside and he stepped into an elevator. He hadn't done this in years. Only once after the Manor had been rebuilt did he come down here. Even then it was only a quick look, to see what Alfred had done with the place.

The door slid open and Bruce stepped into the bat cave. It looked the same as it always had. The waterfall still gushed and his suit was there just like it had always been. He spared only the briefest of glances at the suit. Now was not the time to linger on the past. Bruce gathered together a few tools before returning up stairs.


A little later in the night, Alfred made the descent to the bat cave looking for Bruce. He was worried about Bruce. He brooded in silence often these days, but this was different. Bruce had had a bit of a manic look in his eye ever since the theft.

"Alfred, good timing, come here a second," Bruce waved him over from the computer station. He hardly looked at Alfred, Bruce was too busy searching the computer screen. His leg was jumping up and down as though he was excited or agitated. It had been so long since Bruce had shown any emotion aside from despair that Alfred couldn't discern which.

"Sir, when was the last time you ate? You didn't have dinner…" But Bruce waved his hand at Alfred saying, "Yeah, later. But right now I need you to get my car ready."

"What?" Alfred said perplexed. He rarely disobeyed orders, but this was ludicrous. "You haven't left the grounds in years, why would you suddenly decide to leave at one in the morning? You're in no condition!" He sputtered the last part due to his haste to get the words out.

Bruce finally looked Alfred in the face, mildly shocked. Alfred had walked on eggshells around Bruce for a long time. Since Rachel's death in fact. "I'm getting back my mother's necklace Alfred, look…" Bruce pointed at one of the screens. There was a mug shot of the young maid who had committed the robbery. "It took me awhile, to find her. She's clever. She was wearing someone else's fingerprints. Anyways her name's Selina Kyle," the woman in the picture had a dead look in her eyes and her hair was very short. Alfred figured it must have been taken a few years ago. Bruce continued, "She's Gotham's most notorious thief…" Alfred finished for him, "The Catwoman." He shook his head. It was his fault, he practically welcomed her in. He'd need to start doing background checks on everyone they employed. "Her record is quite long. Theft, assault..." Prostitution. She was the woman Bruce had saved years ago. She'd certainly moved up in the world. Or down depending on what your perspective was. "She was an orphan, forced to live a life on the streets."

Bruce went on, pointing at another screen, "As a precaution I had a tracker placed on the necklace," the two men watched the red blip on the screen. "All I have to do is catch her before she fences it." Bruce stood up. He needed to change into something presentable before leaving the house.

"Master Wayne, take a moment to…" Bruce's knees suddenly gave out on him. He fell with a cry of anguish. Alfred hustled over saying, "Look at you, all this excitement has exhausted you." Bruce hung his head in shame. "Sir," Alfred laid a reassuring hand on Bruce's shoulder. He hated seeing him like this. Old before his time. "You retired years ago. And Gotham survived."

Bruce looked up at him, his eyes big and determined, "But…"

"There are people out there that are meant to take care of this sort of thing. The police!" Bruce looked bewildered at this. The thought hadn't occurred to him. In the past he had always handled these things himself. Alfred continued, "I'll phone the police and they'll get the necklace back for you."

Bruce reluctantly nodded his head as Alfred helped him up and over to the elevator. "On one condition," Bruce said. Alfred looked at him, puzzled. "I want Jim Gordon on the case, no one else." Alfred smiled. Bruce had always had a deep affection for Jim, as did Alfred. He was there for Bruce when Alfred couldn't be. "Sure thing, Master Wayne."