The snow was blowing more violently than it had at any point early that night as Batman stood on the precipice barely able to keep his balance. His thoughts began flowing like a raging river, he forgot where he had just been moments before and started thinking about jumping. That Gotham would be a better place without him. He started to step out but two hands reached out of nowhere and grabbed him before he could. He spun around to see who had stopped him from doing what needed to be done. He saw the face of Catwoman, except, there was something odd about her. Rather than her beautiful lips and skin, she was covered in fur. Whiskers sprouting out from her nose twitching as she tried to call to him. He couldn't understand what she said, it was nothing but a bit long meow.

Withdrawing his arms from her grasp, he noticed he had been scratched and was now bleeding. His eyes grew wide when he realized that something had happened to her! She no longer was Selina Kyle! Catwoman was something else entirely now and she was out to get him. He stepped backward, trying to get away, she reached out to him again trying to pull him away from the side of the rooftop, but she was too late. Batman was in free fall again. This time, he wouldn't be saved by anyone, he thought, this time all will be set right.

His fall stopped suddenly with a cold thud into a large bank of snow. The skyscrapers of Gotham loomed overhead as if the city were watching Batman's every move. He pushed himself up, he knew his arm had been broken in the fall, and he winced at the pain he felt. The snow was so deep, it was up to his knees as he tried to walk down the alley way. The lights seemed to fade out as he trudged further and further along. He could hear the echoes of several footsteps ahead of him in the alley, as if the snow were no longer there. Looking down around him, he realized the snow had now disappeared. The footsteps ahead of him stopped. He struggled to see what was happening, but knew he needed to get closer.

Jogging down the alley he suddenly heard a struggle, then a gunshot. Then another echoed out, piercing his ears like a sharp needle. A shiver ran down his spine as he all of a sudden saw the two bodies in front of him. He could feel tears beginning to form in his eyes. He couldn't believe this was happening again. Walking forward carefully, praying hard that this wasn't real, he saw the confirmation that he had feared.

"Mom, Dad!" He cried out in agony. How could this happen again! He collapsed next to his parents' bodies and caressed them in his arms, now beginning to sob. I was too late, he thought. I couldn't save them before. I couldn't save them now!

As he knelt down, crying, his father's body sudden took on life and stood up over him. He seemed even taller than he had been, almost if had grown within an instant. He glared down at Batman, his eyes burned with fire. There was no love there. Batman could feel the tears streaming down his face as his dad, the one man he loved most as a child stared him down, accusing him of being responsible for his death.

"Bruce!" His died cried out, contempt in his voice.

"Dad!"

His dad's mouth opened up to speak again, bats spewed forth, surrounding Batman in a cloud that made him cower before him, "You were responsible for this! You could have acted! You did nothing!"

He looked up at his father, how could he say that? He was just a child! "The man had a gun! I was a child, I was eight! I wasn't what I am now!"

"You should have done something, Bruce! You failed us! Our blood is on your hands!"

Suddenly, his mother's body was brought back to life as she stood up crookedly, her beautiful neck had been bloodied from the necklace being ripped off her. The beautiful necklace his father had given her that very night! More tears began streaming from his eyes as he watched his mother take her place next to his father. Her eyes burning fire and her hair seemed to billow out. Tears of blood flowed from her eyes as she stared down at her cowering son.

"Mom, Dad, I'm-I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything. I was just a child."

His father bellowed out, "You're nothing more than a child now!"

He shook his head, he was more than that, he knew this much, "I'm not a child. I'm a defender of the defenseless!"

His mother opened her mouth to speak, her voice a blood curdling shriek, "You let us die, Bruce! You should have stopped him from shooting us! My beautiful necklace is gone and you let him take it!"

Batman pounded the ground with his fists, what was this? What was going on? That's when he realized he must have inhaled a large amount of the fear toxin! He continued to speak to the apparitions of his parents, know the only way to get out, was to overcome his own self-doubt. He thought back to what he and Selina had talked about earlier that evening. How Batman is not just a mortal man, he's a symbol. He's a symbol of hope to those who have no hope, he needed to come out this.

"I did all I could as a child," he said, "You are nothing more than my thoughts. I have no reason to feel guilty over your deaths!"

Suddenly, his mother and father began to merge, shrinking down into the familiar figure of Jason Todd, of Robin! Batman began to question himself again, how could he deal with this? He knew he was responsible for Jason's death. He could have done something. He knew he should have been there sooner!

Jason stood in front of him, his suit was torn and covered in blood. Bruises covered his body and his eyes were cold. No fire came from within. Instead, just sadness. He seemed to stare through Batman, he didn't speak. He didn't have to. The stare was enough to cause Batman to begin sobbing. For all the guilt he had felt with the death of his parents, he felt ten times worse over Jason's death. He was his guardian, his father. He let Joker capture him, torture him and ultimately kill him!

Jason spoke, "How could you not have saved me? I loved you, Bruce! I trusted you!"

Batman looked at Jason, tears stung his eyes, he tried to shake the vision away, but he couldn't, he stammered out, "Jason! I loved you! I did everything I could to get there on time! Joker was too far ahead of me on this! I wanted to save you! I knew I could have made it!"

"But you didn't. Instead, you let me get blown up!"

He shook his head, he knew that this was only a vision. He couldn't be hurt by him. It wasn't really Jason. The real Jason would understand him. Would know what he had fought against to get him. He took a deep breath and again thought about what he talked to Selina about. He had no reason to feel guilt over Jason's death. You cannot predict what the Joker will do. You cannot anticipate what would happen!

"The Joker is unpredictable! How could I have known he was going to capture you the way he did?"

Jason's visage began to fade away slightly, Batman knew it was working. He continued to try and fight against it. "Jason, I loved you, and I still love you! If there was any way for me to have been able to get there sooner, I would have done it. Believe me, I did everything I could to stop him. To get there in time. You will never be forgotten, Jason. I love you."

Suddenly, the alley began to fade away, and Jason was no longer there. In front of him stood Scarecrow, looking down at him. Though his face was obscured by his mask, Batman could sense the confusion on it. Scarecrow began fumbling through his coat trying to get another vial of fear toxin ready. Batman smirked as he leaped up and landed a stiff punch straight into Scarecrow's jaw. He flew backwards and into his television set, it broke letting off sparks.

Batman reached over and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. He pulled off the fear toxin emitter that was mounter on Scarecrow's arm and tossed it on the floor. Scarecrow cried out, "How-how could you have broken out of that? That was the most highly concentrated dose of my strongest toxin!"

"Never underestimate me, Scarecrow. I'm much stronger than you realize."

With that Batman gave him a strong head butt, knocking Scarecrow out. He crumpled to the floor like a rag doll. Batman turned to see that he had not been alone. Catwoman was standing near the door to the apartment in handcuffs and the SWAT team led by Gordon stood in awe at what they just witnessed. Batman could feel himself grow a little tense. How much had they seen? What did they hear? He walked over to them, Gordon stepped out and shook his hand.

"Great work, Batman," he beamed.

Batman nodded, "Thank you, Jim."

Gordon patted him on the back, "I've never seen anyone fight against Scarecrow's fear toxin like that. You truly are a hero."

Batman shook his head, "I'm not a hero, Jim. I'm Batman. I'm the defender of Gotham City. Nothing more, nothing less."

Gordon punched him in the shoulder, "Stop being modest. You just did more for Gotham than you could possible imagine."

Gordon motioned for his men to handcuff Scarecrow. Two men walked over cautiously, as if expecting him to jump back up and gas them. Batman looked at Catwoman who was tapping her foot. She looked inpatient, giving him a desperate look, as if to say, get me out of this! Batman smiled a bit and said, "Jim."

"Yes?"

Pointing at Catwoman, "She was actually helping me tonight. I'd appreciate it if you let her come with me."

Bullock put his hand on his forehead and rubbed it. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, as if they needed more reason to take Batman in, he was now trying to free a known felon! "Commish, don't listen to him! We've been trying to capture Catwoman for months!"

Gordon looked at Batman, then at Bullock, then back at Batman, "Considering what you two were able to accomplish tonight, I'll let her go."

Bullock was incredulous! How could he do this? "What? You're going to let her walk free, just like that?"

"There's probably more this than you realize, Bullock. I'm willing to let her go with Batman."

Catwoman smiled as the handcuffs were removed from her wrists. She slinked over to Batman rubbing his shoulder as she walked to the bathroom to check on Nightwing. "Thanks Jim," Batman said gratefully, he couldn't have done anything tonight without her help.

Bullock lit a cigarette and stormed out of the room, mumbling something about how Batman is a nuisance and Gordon is corrupt. Gordon rolled his eyes as he turned to regard Batman again. "Thanks again, Batman. I do have a question for you though, is Catwoman becoming a reformed criminal?"

Batman looked toward the bathroom as he heard her and Nightwing arguing about who was going to sit where in the chopper ride back to the cave. He smiled, "Maybe, I'm working on it, Jim."

Gordon grinned, whatever Batman was doing, he knew it was working well. Gordon patted him on the back again, then lit up a cigarette. Inhaling the soothing vapors, he said, "Well, I guess this wraps up tonight. And look, the sun hasn't even risen yet!"

Batman looked out the window and could see the sun creeping out on the reflections on the buildings, "No, it looks like dawn has come at last. This was a long night."

Gordon nodded, looking outside as well, "Let's hope we don't have a night like this again for a long, long time."

Batman nodded, to that, he totally agreed. Now, he thought, time to go home.