Justice League and the Court of Owls does not belong to me. Just Cho and Company.

Big thanks to mbembet, 1Superman4Me, Cajun Strong Man 2, Hawk2012, Tigress2929, and FrostLily11 for reviewing!


Huntress had been enjoying a nice quiet evening to herself when J'onn's voice called her, Black Canary, and Green Arrow over the comlink. Earlier, Batman had asked Helena and the other two to stay in Gotham on standby in case something went wrong at the big gala that he and Diana were attending. Dang, that man should take up a side-job as a fortune-teller. He'd be good at it.

Then Superman's voice came over the link, saying that Batgirl had been shot... What? Barb? What the heck happened? I thought Bruce and his board members were the targets...

No time to think about that now. Huntress placed her mask on her face and requested teleportation to Lincoln March's penthouse. She materialized right next to Dinah, and Oliver materialized behind them a second later. There was no sign of Superman or Barbara, but Bruce, Diana, J'onn, and March were helping panicked people to the exits. A teenaged Asian girl, who Helena knew from Batman's research to be March's secretary, was watching the scene unfold with a shocked expression. Poor girl.

J'onn, using his telepathy, updated the three newly arrived Leaguers on the situation. Apparently, someone had tried taking a pot shot at Bruce and Barb had pushed him out the way, taking the hit herself. Superman had already rushed her out of sight of the March's penthouse so that he could beam himself and Barbara up without putting suspicion on Barb. Civilians weren't taken to the Watchtower's hospital wing, only Leaguers. Batgirl hadn't joined yet, but thanks to her affiliation with Batman she was one of the extremely few non-Leaguers given that special treatment. Special treatment that probably was the only thing that could save her life.

Huntress nodded to J'onn before she, Canary, and Arrow split up to search the perimeter. They had to search for the sniper, who couldn't have gotten far. Find 'im and book 'im. Of course, I'll make sure to knock him around some before I take him in. No one does that to one of my gals. Over the past three years, and especially since Diana had become pregnant, Batman had allowed Huntress more free rein in Gotham with the understanding that, if she tried another stunt like that Mandragora incident, he'd reveal her identity to the world.

And she couldn't exactly have retaliated with the same threat. Bruce had already gone to great lengths to prove that he wasn't Batman, no one would believe a crazed vigilante girl who'd been cut from the League. So she'd followed suit, playing nicely. And she'd worked with Batgirl a lot. In fact, the two of them and Canary were, like the Flash had said, like the three Amigos. Thick as thieves. Arrow had even called them the Birds of Prey once...

Of course, Huntress didn't let these thoughts distract her from the mission at hand. As she prowled the rooftop of the building directly across the street from March's penthouse, she couldn't help feeling like something just wasn't right. Goosebumps crept up her arms as she noticed an unmoving bundle. A bundle that suspiciously looked like a body... without a head.

In fact, that's exactly what it was. A sniper's rifle was clenched in the body's hands. "This is Huntress," she began, her voice shaky. She cleared her throat, but it had no effect whatsoever on her voice. Helena still sounded freaked as she reported in, "I think... I definitely found the sniper."

"What's his position?" Arrow spoke up.

No answer.

"Huntress?" Canary's voice filled with worry, "Helena? What's wrong?"

"I th-think that C of O has been here..." Huntress caught movement in her peripheral view. She whipped around, catching sight of a black-clothed figure jumping across any alleyway with something that looked suspiciously like a sack thrown over his shoulder. "In fact, I think I see him now."

With that, she took off after the figure, managing to keep up with him for several blocks. J'onn, Canary, and Arrow all tried calling her, but she ignored them, focusing on the hunt. Looks like he's headed for the old Park Row. Crime Alley does seem to be the best place for scum like that to hide. And then, just like that, the C of O was gone. What the heck?

Well, at least she knew without a doubt that he was the same person who'd committed the Davidson murders. The suspect perfectly fit Vic's description from two months ago.


Tim didn't care that Bruce was in full Batman regalia. All he cared about was Bruce was his dad. And he was scared for Barbara. Crap. I'm eighteen years old. I shouldn't be acting like a scared little kid every time something bad happens. But that was simply all thanks to the Joker. The psychopath had done much more than just torture him. The maniac and his crazy girlfriend had completely shattered him, stolen his confidence. Even after ten months, the green-haired and white-faced man still haunted Tim in his dreams.

Not caring that some of Bruce's League teammates were in the teleportation room, Tim made a beeline straight toward his father. Bruce wrapped his strong arms around him and Tim immediately felt safe.

"Alright, nothin' to see here, folks," Flash called out, herding two women, Fire and Ice if Tim remembered correctly, and a gaping Booster Gold out. Batman gave a minute nod which the speedster returned. It was just the three of them now. Plus Alfred, who was waiting patiently in the corner with a sleeping Nathan.

Tim pulled out of Bruce's embrace, but kept a firm grip on the older man's arm as he watched Dick carefully. Please don't start shouting. I don't think I can handle that.

To his surprise, Richard stopped an arm's length in front of the two of them, scuffing his feet with his head down like a kid who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Look, Bruce," Dick began uncertainly. "I... I'm sorry. I was being a complete idiot. Barb was right, what happened to Tim wasn't your fault. I was wrong to-"

Bruce pushed back his cowl and cut Dick off by grabbing the man in a crushing hug, then pulled away, his gaze meeting the younger man's, "Forget it, Dick. As far as I'm concerned, it never happened. What's important right now is Barbara."

"Is she gonna be okay?" Tim asked fearfully.

Bruce sighed, running his hand through his black hair. It was then that Tim noticed the few barely noticeable gray strands. I wonder where those came from? Bruce didn't have them before...

"She's still alive, but that's all I know. Clark and Diana are with Jim in the waiting room."

"The Commissioner's here?" If anything, Dick sounded just a little scared.

"He doesn't know, Dick. But I suggest telling him as soon as possible." Doesn't know what? And what does Dick need to tell Commissioner Gordon?


Batman sighed in relief as he watched Dick lead Tim towards the hospital wing of the Watchtower. Nightwing had been up here only once before, when Flash had brought him up after a stake-out gone wrong. Dick had taken a nasty blow to the head, but, thankfully, had recovered quickly. How Bruce wished that the same could be said for Barb.

Nathan whimpered in Alfred's arms and Bruce quickly realized how foolish he'd been to have his entire family come up the Watchtower. Thankfully, aside from J'onn and the medical staff working on Barbara, the three that Flash had shooed from the room were the only ones currently aboard the satellite. Most of the staff had gone home for the night and most of the League was down in Metro Tower. The Watchtower itself was scheduled to be decommissioned in just a few more months.

Alfred walked softly toward him, "I believe that Master Nathan wants you, sir."

Bruce took the baby from his butler's arms, cradling his son close to his chest, "Shh, Nathan. I've got you," he murmured as he sat in the monitor chair. The baby instantly calmed, but Bruce was far from calm himself. Inside, he was a tumult of emotions. Most people wouldn't even notice due to his careful control. But Alfred wasn't most people. And Bruce was well aware of the fact that it was impossible to hide anything from the man who'd known him from birth.

Said butler moved closer, placing a reassuring hand on his master's shoulder, "Master Bruce? What happened down there? Master Wallace said that Miss Barbara pushed you and Miss Diana out of the way."

Batman didn't answer right away, watching Nathan as his son's breathing deepened and the baby went back to sleep. Alfred waited patiently.

"I was distracted, Alfred. I hadn't taken Diana dancing in so long and I... I wasn't paying attention."

"I doubt that," was the curt reply. Bruce turned hard blue eyes up at the older man, but Alfred ignored the glare. "You're only human, sir. It's not possible for you to notice every little detail."

"Alfred, I've spent years training for just that. I should be able to-"

"Bull." The very fact that Alfred had said the word was enough to shock Bruce into silence. Alfred never said anything so, as he put it, 'improper'. Alfred continued, taking advantage of his master's silence, "You're blaming yourself for something that was not your fault. Again. I don't blame you, and I'm absolutely certain that Miss Barbara and the Commissioner don't blame you either. The blame lies with the man whose hand squeezed the trigger."

Bruce shook his head, but Alfred was right. As usual. "Deadshot. I'm almost certain that it was Deadshot."

"The mercenary? But why would he target you? Could this be the C of O's doing?"

Batman slipped his cowl back on and shook his head, "No, Alfred. Sniping just doesn't fit the C of O's style. In fact, from the evidence, whoever he or she is wasn't pleased with the mercenary's actions."

"And why do you believe that, sir?"

"Because Huntress found what she, Black Canary, and Green Arrow believe to be Deadshot's body on the roof of the office building across the street from March's penthouse."

"Believe to be?"

"The head's gone. Just like the Davidson murders, Alfred. That tells me that the C of O is watching my every move. And that they don't want me dead. Yet." He tightened his grip protectively on the baby in his arms. "So, for the moment, the important question is... Who hired Deadshot to assassinate Bruce Wayne?"


Please R&R.