A/N: 07.21.2017

Finally! This chapter is done! Man, I was having the worse case of writer's block! Well, not the worst. I had one period where I didn't write for months. THAT was horrible!

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!


Chapter 9

Terry woke up the next morning, grabbing his forehead. He felt like he had been out drinking all night, not fighting supervillains. "Great," he said. "All of the hangover without any of the fun." He looked up and Max sitting next to him. "Hey."

"Hey," she smiled.

"Hey, how'd I get home? Last thing I remember, I was just pulling into the cave and…"

"Bruce said you passed out almost as soon as you parked the Batmobile. They made sure you were alright then B brought you here. Bruce said it was just exhaustion from the night."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"What happened last night?"

"After dealing with a riot at Blackgate, we had a little talk with B about being radio silent."

"What happened with all of that?"

"That's just it. We think someone's after B. There is some kind of signal that was blocking his place. That's why we couldn't get a hold of him or Sally about the riot last night."

"It was just on his place?"

"No, the whole block. Three, actually. Anyway, the trail of the signal that knocked out his whole block led me to Stern Ironworks and an ass kicking. These two guys were waiting for me. One of them was an enemy of Basem's: Lord Troy. Took 'em on last night. Got my ass handed to me."

"Looks like it."

"Feels like it."

Max looked him over, "Terry… what is actually going on?"

"I don't have the slightest idea."

"Is someone after Basem?"

"Scary answer: yes."

The rest of the day for Terry was spent trying to recuperate from last night. Bruce was busy tracking down any information on Lord Troy and to find the identity of his accomplice. Basem was doing the same when Sally came by his apartment. She opened the freight elevator doors to find Basem working on something electronic as his work bench.

"Hey, babe," Sally said, smiling.

"Hey," Basem said.

She felt a little worried. She'd never seen Basem like this. She walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Are you okay?"

"They were here," Basem said. "Whether I was the target or not, they were here. I'm making sure that they don't ever block me, ever again."

"Can I help at all?"

"Not at the moment." Basem kept working.

Sally stared at him, intently. She'd see him focused before but never like this. "Baby…"

"I just want to make sure that it doesn't happen again."

Suddenly, the elevator went back down to the bottom floor."

"Did you come alone?" Basem asked.

Sally nodded. "Maybe it's Terry."

"Probably."

The elevator came back up and Max opened the doors, a smile on her face. "Hey, guys!"

Sally's eyes widened. "Max!"

"That's my name."

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to bring B something." Max set her purse and her backpack down on the table.

"How did you get here?" Basem asked.

Max stopped going through her bag and stared at him. "I drove."

"By yourself?"

"I do have a license," she pulled a device out of her bag.

"Max, it's dangerous for you to come here right now." Basem looked at Sally, "For that matter, it's dangerous for you to come here."

"Oh, we don't even know that you were the target," Max said, fiddling around with her device.

"And if you think I'm staying away, you're crazier than I am," Sally said.

"We do know that I was the target," Basem said. "Troy is an enemy of mine. But how he knows my identity is anyone's guess." He looked at Max, "And what is that?"

"It's a signal disruptor," Max said. "If anyone tries to hijack the signal in a six block radius, you'll know instantly and this will disable whatever tries."

"When did you make this?" Sally asked.

"Like five years ago," Max looked at it. "Dammit, where are those batteries?" She looked through her backpack. "A-ha!" She pulled out a package of AA batteries.

"Seriously? AA batteries?"

"What? Low tech is sometimes the best answer."

"Why do you have this?" Basem asked.

"Made it for Terry in case he ever needed. Bruce had beaten me to it by 12 hours. It made me feel smart to have the same idea as Bruce Wayne."

"As oppose to being able to answer every question that leaves others with blank faces, Ms. Smarty Pants?" Sally asked with smile.

"Mrs. Smarty Pants," Max corrected. "You know how long it took me to get that damn 'McGinnis' last name? I earned it."

"'Miss' is still technically and grammatically correct," Basem smiled.

"Eh. Whatever. I like 'missus.' Well, some of the time." Max turned the device on. "Alright. You're all set. The design should make it that you should only change the batteries every six months but just keep an eye on it, just in case."

Basem shook his head, "Max. You didn't have to do this."

"Like hell. Someone's targeting you. Someone's after my family. And I may be hormonal, emotional, hungry all the damn time, irritable frequently," she looked off to the side, "I forgot where I was going this."

Basem and Sally laughed.

"Oh, yeah!" Max snapped her fingers and looked back at them. "But no one gets to go after my family and have me not do anything about it."

Basem just held his smile, "Sometimes, I think you should be Nightrunner."

"Don't tempt me. I've only suppressed the bug to be Batwoman. I haven't lost it altogether."

"'Batwoman'?" Sally asked.

"Originally, it would've been 'Batgirl' but, whatever," Max shrugged.

"Does Terry know you're here?" Basem asked.

"Of course. Protested the whole time. Made him stay his ass in bed until he has to hit the streets tonight."

"I don't want him or you to stress over me."

Max stared at him, blankly. "But if we don't obsess over you, what are we going to do until the baby gets here?" She smiled.

Basem laughed again. He sighed. "Thanks, Max."

"Sure thing."

"Guess you're more than just a pretty face," Sally joked.

"You're just jealous because I'm thicker than you," Max said.

Sally stared at her for a while. "That's a secret? Of course, I'm jealous of you, Greek muse! And, dang it, being pregnant is only adding curves to you!"

Max smirked. "I know, right? It's pretty awesome."

"Oh, wait! I point out your boobs are bigger, you tell me to shut up! Suddenly, it's okay?"

"It is when my husband shows them a lot of appreciation."

"Oh, I didn't need to hear that!" Basem laughed as he walked back to his motorcycle and started working on it.

Sally smiled as she watched Basem to go to work. She looked back at Max, "I don't what voodoo magic you wield when you enter a room but, God, do I love it!"

Max smiled. "No magic. Just me."

"That's always been pretty magical to me."

Max rubbed her arm, "Glad I could help."


Bruce was going through the security footage of from the prison and the battle Terry had at the ironworks when he got a video call from Barbara Gordon. He answered the call and Gordon's image appeared on the screen, "Wayne here."

"Bruce, I have some information for you," Gordon said.

"What is it?"

"You're not gonna like it."

"I'm used to unpleasant news."

"Aren't we all. The transfer request did come from Interpol but from the Paris office."

Bruce gave a hard glare at the screen. "Paris?"

"Paris," Gordon repeated.

Bruce sat back.

"What does this mean?"

"I don't know yet." He looked back at the screen, "But no one is going to like where this goes next."


That night, after their patrol, which came with no sign of Tumulus or any of the others, Terry and Basem arrived back in the Batcave, where Bruce was standing by the landing pad for the airbike and Batmobile.

"We need to talk," Bruce said as soon as the boys disembarked their vehicles.

"Okay?" Terry asked. He looked over to see Gordon standing at the base of the steps. "Commissioner?"

"Evening, boys," Gordon said.

"What is she doing here?" Basem asked.

"We've been working on this whole mess," Bruce said. "It seems that the request for the prisoner transfer came from Paris."

Basem stared at Bruce, stunned. "Paris?"

Terry jerked his head back. "Paris?"

"Paris," Bruce answered, walking toward the computer, followed by the boys and Gordon. Terry and Basem took their masks off once they were by the computer.

Bruce started typing on the computer, "Barbara managed to track down that the transfer request for Teresa Shell and Blaze was from the Interpol office there."

Basem looked around, bewildered, as he whispered, "The transfer for Malum came from Paris, too."

Bruce looked at Basem, "How do you know that?"

"Found that out just before you called me last night."

Bruce looked back at the computer. "That settles it. We need to look into this, ourselves."

"How?" Terry asked.

"You need to go to Paris," Bruce said, bluntly.

Terry stopped. "I'm sorry. What?"

"You heard me."

"Him?" Basem asked. "Why not me?"

"Because you need to stay here," Bruce said.

"Oh, boy…" Terry whispered.

"And why is that?" Basem asked.

"Because you'll get too emotionally involved," Bruce answered.

Basem stared at him quietly. He wanted to argue but he couldn't think of anything to say.

Bruce looked at Terry, "Pack a bag and get ready to go."

"Time out," Terry said, holding his hand up. "You want me, a married man, to go to Paris while my, my pregnant wife, is at home and can't go?"

"Yes."

Terry rolled his eyes, "Do you hear yourself sometimes or does your stubbornness just go on auto-pilot?"

"Auto-pilot," Gordon smirked.

"And what part of 'the League can handle Paris' did you not hear yourself say to Basem yesterday?!"

"Things have changed since yesterday," Bruce replied.

Terry rolled his eyes again and groaned.

"Do you think Max will understand?" Gordon asked.

"What woman is going to understand her husband going to Paris without her?" Terry asked.

Gordon stared at him for a few seconds. "I was going to say that you'll be working but, yeah, you're in trouble." She sighed. "I'm really sorry, Terry. But… this isn't something anyone else can handle."

"I know, I know."

"You know how the game's played," Bruce said.

"Too well." Terry threw his head back. "I cannot believe this." He looked at Basem, "You gonna be okay?"

Basem stared at him. "Just watch your back." He headed to the stairs.

Terry rubbed the back of his head. He looked at Bruce, "When am I leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning. Go home and let Max know. And get some rest."


Terry was back at home and packing a couple of bags so he could leave first thing in the morning.

"How long will you be gone?" Max asked.

Terry looked at her as he put a shirt in a suitcase, "Just a couple of days, I promise."

She folded her arms and looked away.

He sighed. "Max, this is just business. I'm only going to figure out what all of this stuff has to do with B and that's it."

She nodded.

He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "The last thing I want to do is leave. You know that."

"I know," she whispered, hugging him back. "I don't know what's going on with me, right now. One minute, I'm fine then the next…" She shook her head, "I don't know. Maybe I'm just freaking out. I mean, with yesterday, too. I haven't seen you come home unconscious in a long time."

"And then I'm leaving almost right after."

"I'm just nervous, Terry. Someone aimed at B's house! While he and Sally were there!"

"I know. That's why I wanna do this fast. I don't like the idea of someone being after him."

She exhaled. "Then you better get going. Grace needs her father. And I need you."

"Just like I need you."

She smiled. "Don't you ever forget it."

"How could I? It's why you have a ring on your finger."

She giggled then pulled him closer. "Be careful, Terry."

He held her tighter, "I will. I promise."


A/N: Oh, boy.

Terry is off to Paris. What awaits our hero in the City of Lights and what will be going on in Gotham while he's gone? And will this lead to any answers for the Dark Knights?

Find out next time, Batfans! See you soon!