A/N: Spoilers for Grudge Match

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 6: Diligence

"The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools." Confucius

It wasn't until two days later that Diana found herself flying her jet from the Watchtower toward Earth, making her way toward the California coast.

She was still tired from the night before. And still furious. Glamour Slam. She had been inches from smashing Shayera and Vixen's skulls together. She would love to have Roulette alone in the cage match. Just for a few minutes. Bruce probably already found whomever Luthor had gotten to sabotage the comlinks at Wayne Tech. Hera help him. Some time away "to think" was sounding better and better.

At least there hadn't been any additional women found dead in Gotham wearing Wonder Woman regalia.

She was to meet Dylan Stone at a private airport near the Southern California coastline. It wasn't necessary to land her plane there – it could fly and land nearly anywhere, including through and on the water. It was certainly convenient, but this meeting point was chosen because he had some sort of meeting there that afternoon.

Diana arrived early, having been eager to get off of the Watchtower. The only activity she found at the small airport was four men gathered next to a small plane. Three had large packs on their backs over red jumpsuits and helmets. Another man was working with the plane and appeared to be preparing for departure.

They jumped in surprise as Wonder Woman suddenly became visible as she exited the plane. Mouths open, none of the men uttered a word as she walked toward them and said hello.

"Excuse me, are one of you Dylan Stone?"

Three pairs of eyes turned to the fourth man in the group, a very tall, handsome man with blonde curls and eyes that were the color of washed denim. He stepped forward, hand extended. "That would be me. Pleasure to meet you, Wonder Woman."

"Just Diana, please," she said smiling as she returned the handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Diana." Dylan grinned at his friends who were still standing silent, staring at the new arrival. "Sorry boys, I won't be joining you today."

"Please don't change your plans on my account. I'm very early. You were about to go…?" Diana gestured towards the pack on his back.

"Skydiving."

"Yes. Jumping out of this airplane?"

Dylan Stone reddened slightly. "I'm an adrenaline junkie. With this, it's the thrill of flying through the air at high rates of speed."

"Do those tandem harnesses work without the parachute?"

He nodded.

Diana smiled. "Then, I'm sure I can do better. How would you like to try something a little different today?"

Several hours later, Diana was sitting in a small, yet beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They had driven his convertible from the airport and stopped at Dylan Stone's home for some dinner and to hopefully choose a song for her to sing. Later they were meeting his band at an estate the record company owned.

Diana was looking out at the ocean, standing in front of the open door that lead out to the patio. "It's beautiful here," she said. "Peaceful."

Behind her, Dylan's head popped around the side of a computer monitor on the far side of the room. "It's small, but since the view itself cost a fortune, I wasn't comfortable with anything larger. I travel so much, I'm barely here. Besides, I'd much rather do something more important with the money I make. I don't need much. Later we'll be going to an estate down the coast that the record company owns, outfitted with a studio for practicing and recording. The suits find it helpful to have a place handy where they could get their talent to "focus". The accommodations are much more befitting a Princess. That is, if you choose to stay. My band is already there. Enjoying themselves, no doubt, before I arrive and demand many hours of rehearsing."

Not turning from the view, Diana responded, "Hopefully I will not disappoint."

"I can't imagine that could ever happen. As for the song….I pulled up some hit songs strong women singers, mostly classic stuff. Strong, powerful voices and strong powerful songs. It's how we mere mortals see you – but we could go another direction if you like."

At the phrase 'mere mortals' Diana turned to look at his expression. From Bruce, she would have expected sarcasm, disdain, or even disappointment in the tone. Dylan Stone was looking at her expectantly with a friendly grin. The same one that had been directed toward her all day.

She returned the same friendly smile. "No. That sounds just fine."

"Good. In that case, have a seat. I'll make dinner and you let me know if you find something you like. We have less than two weeks, so let's get to work."

Diana listened to song after song. mostly from the 70's and 80's. After about an hour, she sat back in her chair and pulled the headphones off. "This one."

Two days after Diana left, Batman sat on one his usual observation posts in Gotham. It had been four days since the last victim was found. Since then, there had been no more victims. There also had been no more clues. The autopsy report on the second victim turned up the expected cause of death – a laceration to the chest, causing severe blood loss. Trace amounts of Phenobarbital was found in her system, indicating that the killer probably used the drug to subdue her. Dick was tracing where the Phenobarbital could have come from.

He was in a foul mood. Even more so than usual. He was frustrated with the lack of progress on this case. Those that knew him best though, also know the other reason. Diana was in Southern California with no plan to return until the benefit.

And then there was that problem in Bludhaven the night before she went to California.

Across town, Robin was sitting on his own post watching the city. His comlink activated. "Batman to Robin."

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Anything suspicious?"

"No. You'd know if I did. This would be much more effective if Nightwing was on patrol too. We can cover more territory."

"No. He watches Bludhaven at night. He's doing enough during the day with the GCPD assignment."

"But Huntress is there."

"We've been through this. Huntress and four League members are lucky to be alive. Roulette would have killed them, using Diana as the tool. Because I had Nightwing in Gotham. It wouldn't have gotten so far if he'd been there."

"Now Lex Luthor and Roulette putting a Justice League girl fight together is your fault? Tell me, what isn't?"

Batman ignored his comment, "Besides, Oracle is monitoring nearly every outdoor security feed in Gotham."

Right on cue, Oracle broke in. "B. I think I have something. Black cargo van pulling out of an alley on Carson, between 17th and 18th. Yep, something was left on the ground as he pulled out of the alley. Visible from the street. Zooming in camera….it looks like we have victim number three."

Batman jumped off his perch and fired the grapnel gun in midair. He barked out, "Do you have visual on the van?"

"Headed up Carson, toward North Park"

He dropped onto the hood of the Batmobile and jumped behind the wheel. "Oracle – in pursuit. Keep a visual on him. Track my location and take me to him. Robin, go to the crime scene."

"Robin, GCPD en route. B, Right on Smithfield…..Left on Liberty…..You should get a visual at the turn."

Batman slightly lifted the pressure on the accelerator as he approached and pushed it to the floor through the sharp turn onto Liberty Avenue.

"Slow up, you'll be right up on him after the turn. Whoa – he just made a hard right mid-block. I think he pulled into a parking garage on the north side of Liberty."

"Get some eyes in that garage!"

"Municipal garage, on your right…now"

Batman saw the entrance and makes a hard right, going down a tight spiral ramp into the garage. It was an underground garage so there was no line of sight.

"Slow down! He stopped right at the bottom of the ramp on the first floor."

Pulling off the narrow ramp into the first floor of the parking garage and pulled up behind the van, blocking its exit.

"Any activity?"

"No. I saw it stop but nothing else. He's in there. Be careful."

Batman crept up alongside the van. He crouched low and raised a miniature camera on a flexible rod just past the window above him. The van had dark windows, so inside of the van was dimly lit and no visible movement was detected. He repeated this process on each window, picking up no movement within the van.

He circled around and found the driver side door unlocked. Cautiously, he opened the door just wide enough to toss in a smoke pellet filled with an anesthetic. After a few minutes to allow the air to clear, he opened the door.

It was empty.

Batman growled in anger. "Oracle, you're sure nobody exited the van when it stopped?"

"I saw it stop. Nobody got out."

"Pull the digital footage, look at it again. And send me a copy. Tell Nightwing that tomorrow I want everything the GCPD finds out on the third victim. Batman out."

He activated another frequency. "Batman to Green Lantern."

John Stewart immediately replied, "Another one?"

"Yes. And now there's something I need you to do."

An hour later, the entire van was sitting in the Watchtower hangar bay. It had been carried from Gotham into space, courtesy of Green Lantern's Power Ring.

"Ok, it's here," said Lantern. "Now what?"

"We tear it apart."

Since she arrived in California, Diana had come to understand that her host was not a spoiled and temperamental musician. He was as driven as any mortal she'd ever met. Well, all but one.

He worked tirelessly and expected that from those he worked with. Fortunately, she didn't tire easily.

He also expected perfection. From himself. From his colleagues. And from her, despite the fact that she was very inexperienced.

He was passionate in his cause. His cause was his foundation and the work it did. Selling records, to him, was a means to an end. It was a means to support the foundation and a way for his parents continue their missionary work. As he had explained, it's not like they can trek through jungle on foot anymore.

He reminded her a lot of Bruce in many ways. They were very different in others.

Dylan was open and genuine. She found it refreshing. His mission was fueled by a quest for peace.

Bruce was closed, concealed. His mission was fueled by anger and tragedy. For now.

Bruce was a warrior. Dylan was a peacekeeper.

Dylan had been nothing but appreciative, attentive, and complimentary. Diana was finding that she liked this kind of attention.

On the third morning of her stay, she awakened to the sound of her comlink buzzing on the nightstand. Diana grabbed the comlink and rolled onto her side, facing the windows that formed one wall of her room at the record companies oceanfront estate. Watching the waves roll onto the beach, she replied to the hail. "This is Wonder Woman."

"Hey, Di. Enjoying sunny California?"

A feeling of foreboding came over her. If he was contacting her, something had happened. "Flash, what is it?"

"We didn't want you to see it on the news this morning. Another victim turned up in Gotham last night."

"Who – how?"

"We haven't been briefed yet. I'm not sure when we will be. Bats is a little…crazed right now. Oracle caught a cargo van on a security feed leaving the victim in an alley. Bats chased it down and when he got to it, it was empty. Completely. Even though there is security footage showing it stop in a parking garage and nobody got out. He had GL fly the van up to the Watchtower hangar bay last night. Then he started tearing it apart. Every piece swabbed, scanned, analyzed. Then he makes Superman come and scan it again."

"Is he there now?"

"Yep. In the lab. He hasn't stopped since he brought it up last night. Hasn't slept or eaten. And is more….Batman…..than usual. The rookies were afraid to go into the hangar bay."

"Thanks Flash."

"He'll get him Di."

"I know."

She changed frequencies. "Wonder Woman to Batman."

"Hello, Princess. I'll assume that you've called for an update?"

Diana sighed. He sounded cold. Angry. "Please. Tell me about her."

After a short pause, with a softer tone, he told her about thirty year-old Deirdre Ward. She had struggled with depression all her life. Several suicide attempts were reported during adolescence. Things worsened, a year ago, after she was divorced from the child's father. She had sunk into a deep depression and most days didn't get out of bed. She had been prescribed a truckload of different anti-depressants and ECT, with very little improvement.

It was believed that she was taken leaving a therapy session. Several hours later she was left in the alley. Her legs had been broken. A number 5 on her thigh. They expected to find the cause of death to be an overdose of Phenobarbital.

Then he told her about the cargo van. It had been reported stolen earlier in the evening. They had found a small amount of trace evidence. Even if it was the victim's, it might give them some idea of where she'd been taken that evening.

When he finished, Diana remained silent.

"Diana?"

"Should I pull out of this benefit? As much as I don't want to give this monster any sense of supremacy by forcing me into hiding, I also don't want to disrespect the families by participating in such a public event. Especially while he's still out there killing."

"You're who public wants, Diana. That's one of the reasons they asked for you. You will inspire more donations. But I can see how it might make you uncomfortable. Whatever you decide, you know we'll support you. If you don't want to do it, I'll make sure that the Stone Foundation reaches their goal."

She wasn't surprised at his last comment. It very much like him to do such a thing. "Thank you. Will you do something else for me? Get some rest. Then go out and find him."

A short while later, she had pulled on a blue sundress and made her way to the beach. She stood at the water's edge and let the blue water washed over her toes. The sensation was soothing. It felt a little bit like being back on the island.

She had been missed inside. Dylan was walking up the beach toward her.

As he reached her, she saw the concern on his face. "Diana, are you ok? I saw the news reports out of Gotham."

Diana's back straightened a little more and she lifted her chin. "I'm fine. I'll be better when they catch him. I do need to discuss something with you, though."

He watched her intently as she described her concern for the families and her participation in the event. Their loved ones had died dressed as her. Despite her strong front, it was becoming more apparent that the situation was beginning to take its toll.

Diana was surprised as she felt herself pulled into a warm embrace. She didn't resist. It was clear that Dylan Stone let his emotions guide his actions and wasn't the least bit intimidated by who she was or what she could do. He soon pulled away and held her face between his hands.

"Diana, before you make a decision, I'm asking you to let me do two things. First, let me find out how the families feel. Second, let me show you what this money will be used for. I want you to feel good about going through with the performance."

They turned and walked together back to the house.

"Besides," he continued, "if you don't sing, you'll be disappointing a lot of kids."

"Kids?" She looked sideways with a questioning expression. This was a high priced ticket, how could a lot of kids be attending?

"Yeah, Bruce Wayne bought the whole floor section right after we announced you as the headliner. He donated all the tickets to youth organizations all over Gotham."