Chapter 6

Sabrina marveled that Bruce was still there next to her. He was still asleep on his stomach, his face turned towards her. She reached over to stroke his shoulder when his eyes opened.

At first, Bruce was unsure of where he was until he saw Sabrina. A slow smile spread across his face, remembering the night before and pulled her close, tenderly kissing her lips and face. He would shrug all his responsibilities if he could, just to be with her. But as always, it could never be that simple. Nothing was ever that simple. Her arms were wrapped around him tightly as if she was afraid to let him go. Reluctantly, she pulled back. He didn't want her to go either, and he wondered when he would wake up from his dream. If it was a dream, he hoped he would never wake up.

"I've got to get ready for work," she said, her voice trembling a bit.

"What's wrong?" Bruce stopped her.

Sabrina shook her head, giving him a bittersweet smile. "It's just that I love every moment with you, I'm afraid of never feeling anything like this again."

Bruce kissed her to reassure her. "I'll always be with you," he promised. He wanted to say more, and he sensed she wanted to say more herself, but her alarm sounded. Six-thirty read the clock.

"What time do you get off?" he asked as she pulled him into the shower. They wanted to savor every moment, as if it were their last. He felt an uneasy feeling creep up in the back of his mind, but he pushed it away.

"Eleven-thirty," she replied watching the water cascade down between them. Her fingers touched him, memorizing every sinew, imprinting him into her memory. "I work a double shift tonight."

"Then I'll see you tonight," he said toweling her dry. He would never get tired of looking at her.

"You wanna stay for breakfast?" she asked as she finished getting dressed. She put some distance between them. If she lingered, or if he lingered, she would never make it to work.

"I've got to go," he said almost fully in his costume. He didn't usually travel in the daylight, but it wasn't uncommon to see the masked vigilante every now and again during the day. He was just more careful not to be seen. Especially now, since he was coming out of Sabrina's apartment. "I have a ten o'clock meeting I can't miss." He gave her one last kiss and headed out the balcony doors. With one last took, he was gone.

In the kitchen, Sabrina began making a quick breakfast. She only had a few minutes before she had to leave for work. As she wolfed down breakfast and headed towards the front door, a canister of smoke suddenly crashed through the window of her dining room clouding the entire apartment. She coughed uncontrollably, dropping her things, tears stinging her eyes. No! she thought desperately. Not now.

Blinded and choking, Sabrina tried to make her way to the door to let the smoke out when she was attacked from behind. She felt a boot strike her in the back, and she grunted with pain as she struck the door. She tried to get out of the way as another foot tried to strike her through the smoke, defending herself as best she could. Despite not seeing her attacker, she knew who it was.

Through the cloud, Sabrina reached out and managed to grab hold of an arm. Sabrina threw her assailant against the wall between the living and dining room knocking down her paintings. A dent appeared where she landed, dazing the woman. Sabrina watched her carefully and slowly backed up, heading towards the front door. As the smoke cleared, she finally saw her getting up, a menacing look directed at her.

"Susana," Sabrina hissed as her sister lunged for her, stopping her from getting to the door. She thought she could sidestep her, but she was knocked down against the kitchen counter. She shook her head trying to catch her breath, pain coursing through her side. As she got up, she groaned as she was hit in the back. She fell to the floor once more and rolled to the side. She got up and kicked Susana in the stomach, but it wasn't good enough to keep her down. Susana put on a gas mask and she opened another canister.

Overwhelmed by the suffocating air, Sabrina could do nothing as Susana rushed for her. Within a few minutes, she was knocked out.

"Wake up, Sabrina," Susana said kicking the chair her captive was strapped to. "We've got issues to discuss."

"What do you want from me?" rasped Sabrina shaking her head. It was throbbing along with her jaw. She could feel pain all over her body and she wondered if anything was broken. She sighed wishing she could help her sister, knowing she couldn't. She had tried. Susana didn't want any help.

"Want from you?" Susana laughed circling the chair. "I should be you. I shouldn't be locked up like a criminal."

"You're a petty thief," cried Sabrina. "If you worked harder to reach your dreams, whatever they might be, instead of taking the easy way out, you probably wouldn't have been locked away."

"I guess trying to kill you didn't help either," said Susana dismissively.

Sabrina glared at her. "I left Metropolis three years ago so I could make a fresh start. I had hoped you could move on with your life once you got out as well."

"Well I decided to carry a grudge instead. It helped me bear the days I was staring at the same four walls," said Susana grabbing her sister's chin in her hand. "But you know what prompted me to get out?"

Sabrina's eyes narrowed and yanked her head away.

She sister began walking around the apartment, orating as if she was on a stage, furniture strewn about. "When I saw your picture in the entertainment news, with the wealthiest and most eligible bachelor in Gotham, let alone the world." Susana faced her fuming sister. "I just had to come and see you."

"Don't…hurt…him," Sabrina warned, emphasizing each and every word.

"Once I get you out of the way, he's all mine," she whispered, leaning close to her. Susana then headed for the phone. "Now where is his number?"

"I don't have it," was the quick reply. Susana was tearing up the apartment, and turning her life upside-down—again. And being tied up, she couldn't do anything about it. She thought of Bruce, how he would get out of this situation, but she had none of the gadgets he had access to, nor anything hidden up her sleeves.

"What do you mean you don't have it?" Susana screamed pushing things off the counter.

"I've never called him and he's never called me," she explained trying to loosen her bonds. They were too tight. "And he's not listed."

Susana screeched and sat down at the computer. At least she had one, she mumbled to herself. She spent the rest of the morning devising a plan to get the billionaire's attention. This should be fun, she thought to herself as she looked up Wayne Enterprises on the web. It wasn't fair that Sabrina had all the luck.

It was early afternoon when Bruce linked into the Bat computer, downloading the information he was waiting for. The burglar struck again, this time in broad daylight, and this time they had pictures, as if the thief wanted to be caught.

One frame showed her profile and in the next one, Bruce saw her face, smiling and winking at the camera. He gasped, recognizing the features he came to love. He felt his heart sink and his stomach churn. Suddenly, he felt exhausted, more than if he'd been up for several nights fighting crime in the city.

"Are you ok Bruce?" Lucius asked him. They were crunching some numbers for a takeover and he had just come back from getting some reports they needed. Within a few minutes from leaving the room, Bruce's face looked drained of color.

"I don't think lunch agreed with me," he said shutting down his computer and getting up. "I need to go home. You got things taken care of for the rest of the day?"

"Yeah, we can finish this Monday," Lucius replied. "Sorry I had to call you in on a Saturday. I hope you weren't planning on seeing Sabrina."

"No problem. Sabrina said she had to work, but I don't think I'm going to see her again." Although he sounded normal, he felt his breath coming out in gasps. He needed to get out, to get some air. At the thought of his loss, his body suddenly ached, knowing what he had to do. She was so perfect, and all that he imagined came crashing down. His hopes were dashed, but maybe it was all for the best. He hoped Alfred would see it that way too.

"That's too bad," said Lucius clearing up the paperwork. "You both look good together."

"I thought so too," said Bruce softly heading out the door.

When Susana came back, she was pleased to see that Sabrina was still knocked out after the blow she gave her. Without any luck at finding a number that would put her in even an indirect contact with Bruce, she had to find another way to get his attention. Her little crime spree was done purposefully to attract the police. Number one, it would ruin Sabrina's pristine reputation. Number two, the police commissioner was a friend of Bruce's as she read in the web reports and he might mention that his girlfriend was raiding a pharmacy. Now that her plan was put into action, she hoped that Bruce would call. Tossing the loot on the couch, she rummaged through the refrigerator.

A few minutes later, Sabrina's eyes opened, dried blood matted to the side of her face. She saw her sister sitting on the couch eating, with her feet on the coffee table. She gave an inaudible sigh, hoping Susana wouldn't notice her stir. She didn't want to talk and most of all, she didn't want to hear the ranting of a crazy lunatic. Luckily, Susana was more interested in the television.

The phone rang, startling them both. "I got it," said Susana as if Sabrina was in a position to answer the phone. But first, she made sure Sabrina wouldn't interfere in the conversation.

"Hello," said Susana as Sabrina would answer it.

"Hi, Bri, it's Bruce," he said calmly although his palms sweated knowing what he had to do next. "I wanted to see you tonight. I hope you're not working."

"As a matter of fact, I came home early because I had some things to take care of," replied Susana loving the sound of his voice and grinning at her sister. "He sounds adorable," she whispered to Sabrina covering the mouthpiece.

Gagged, Sabrina could only give a menacing glare. She still worked at the ropes that tied her hands, ignoring the pain she was causing her wrists.

"So you're available?" Bruce confirmed putting on his second glove. He was almost dressed in his suit, ready to go out. Nearby, Alfred held his cape and cowl.

"I sure am," she said excitedly. "I can't wait to see you."

"How about in an hour. Up on the roof?" he suggested.

"See you then," the voice said at the other end of the phone.