Chapter 10
Outside Poseidon's Garden on the River Walk

After breakfast with Lois, the rest of her day had passed by in a blur. Chloe had gotten a call from her contact at the county morgue. Albert Lyle had been on leave for the past month and he'd only just gotten through reviewing all of the cases that his associate had handled while he was away. There was a pattern the other coroner had missed, not a surprise considering how overworked and understaffed the city morgue was. Most of the victims had been poorly dressed with no ID and all but the exception of one body had gone unclaimed. A man, Rufus Jenkins had been reported missing by his ex-wife. The police had been able to identify him from his missing person's photo.

The victims had various causes of death; asphyxiation, brain hemorrhaging, heart failure, drowning, gunshot to the head, multiple stab wounds and drug overdose. The MCU had no real leads but considering the nature of the victims the police were assuming they were gang related. Despite his case load, Dr. Lyle always looked beyond the surface and after sending away a couple blood vials for analysis, he'd gotten his answer. They all had a strange blood composition. The report showed that they all had abnormally high levels of adrenaline and traces of a radioactive substance he'd never come across before. Singularly, the adrenaline could cause heart failure in prolonged periods. However, combined with the foreign material, he could only theorize as to what their effect would result in.

Chloe had taken a copy of the report and sent it to Dr. Hamilton in San Francisco, along with fresh samples of blood and tissue from one of the latest victims, a youth, found two blocks from the support center Dinah had worked at. No longer on Oliver's payroll, Emil had been forced to look for new employment. He now worked out of a S.T.A.R Labs facility (Scientific and Technological Advanced Research). Where Dr. Amanda Waller had personally requested him to head their research in metahuman physiology. After the Beast attack on Metropolis, the President had commissioned a special team to handle Earth's defense against alien or metahuman threats. San Francisco's S.T.A.R. Labs facility was to be its hub for all things metahuman.

There wouldn't be any word back till at least late tomorrow, even though she'd sent it by priority service. Lois had convinced her to go all out for her first 'official' date with Bruce. Wearing a new cream colored silk, baby doll dress with wispy three quarter length sleeves and strappy tan heels, she felt very summery and feminine. Lois had taken a curling iron to her hair and her usually dull, uneven, long locks now hung in gleaming golden ringlets around her shoulders. Under orders from General Lois, Chloe was outside by a lamp post waiting for her domineering cousin to finish interrogating her prospective date.


Poseidon's Garden

Lois entered the restaurant and announced to the maître d' that she was Bruce Wayne's date and she'd see herself to the table. The man was suitably ruffled but didn't argue with her as she breezed past him dressed to kill in a red, figure-hugging dress, with red satin-covered nine inch pumps to match. Her dark brunette hair hung loose and shiny like a fine mink stole down back and swished lightly as she drifted across the porcelain tiled floor.

Bruce sat comfortably relaxed in his chair, reading from a business binder. He didn't notice the approaching femme fatale until she was right next to his arm.

He spotted the shoes and his face broke into a smile. "Chloe?" Upon seeing the owner of the lovely stilettos, his grin changed into a cautiously pleasant countenance. "Can I help you?"

"Bruce, so formal. It's Lois. I'm truly mortified you don't remember me. We had a great time last year at the reunion."

Bruce's lips pulled up at the edges. So this was Lois and she was in overprotective cousin mode. He could play along. "I honestly didn't mean to sound dismissive, I usually never forget a face. Certainly not one as lovely as yours," Bruce said lifting her hand to his lips.

Lois' face flushed and she quickly extracted her hand, swatting him lightly on his jacket lapel. "Always the charmer. Can I join you?"

Bruce shook his head. "I'm sorry but I'm waiting for someone."

Lois give him a full pout. She hesitated, hovering behind the vacant chair. "But I'm only in town till tomorrow."

"Sorry to let you down but I promised a special someone that I'd wait for her."

Lois raised an eyebrow and ran her hand lightly over the top of the upholstered seat. "So you're not even sure she'll come?" Her eyes brightened. "Then surely I can keep you company till she gets here. If she comes at all," she added quickly.

Bruce chuckled. "While I appreciate the offer Lois, I wouldn't want to give her the wrong impression."

"She can't be intimated by a little ol' me. Why we're just a past thing," she teased flirtatiously.

Bruce sighed. "I know who you are Lois," he said quietly.

"Damn," Lois heaved, yanking out the chair and falling into it. "How long?"

"Pretty much off the bat. Chloe's description of you is pretty accurate."

"Which was?" Lois inquired somewhat hopeful.

"Tall, mahogany colored hair, stunningly beautiful, confident and a gifted conversationalist."

"And they were in reverse order and not so over the top with the praise, I guess." Lois looked glum, suddenly not feeling confident at all in grilling this man. She still held the sides of her chair, debating if she should call it a night and leave Chloe to fend for herself.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. I certainly enjoyed the ego boost," Bruce said with a grin. "And Chloe thinks very highly of you."

"And I of her. She's my baby cuz, so break her heart and I break your prize appendage," she leaned in and gave him her most calculating stare.

"Understood," Bruce agreed with a nod, doing his utmost to keep his face impassive. Lois' threat felt like a kitten trying to hiss at a jungle cat but he respected her for wanting to defend her cousin. Especially considering how carefully Chloe guarded her heart and how fragile she seemed behind her carefully composed exterior.

Lois straightened in her chair and nodded. "Good. Well, I'll leave you to your reading. Good night, Bruce." She got to her feet and looked down at him.

Bruce smiled up at her. "Good night, Lois. It was nice to meet you."

Lois inclined her head and smiled genuinely in return. "You too. If you're ever in Metropolis, look me up. I'll show you around."

"I'll do that, if Chloe doesn't show me herself."

Lois' smile broadened. "You're learning. See you around, Wayne."


The Riverwalk

Chloe felt the warm breeze on her face and closed her eyes. It was rarely this warm in Gotham, especially at night but like the rest of the world they were all suffering wild changes in the weather. All thanks to global warming if you believed the environmentalists. Chloe smiled, she could use the weather as a sign. A nice change was headed her way. She heard heels approach and turned to greet her cousin. "Did he pass the Lois test of fidelity?" she asked sarcastically.

Lois folded her arms across her chest and nodded, coming to stand by Chloe at the railing. "Yes, you have my blessing. You can marry the guy."

"Thanks so much," Chloe snorted. "We'll see if we can make it through our first date and leave that prospect in the distant future where it belongs. Can I go rescue my guy now? I think I've left the poor man waiting long enough. There are three women zeroing in about to give him an indecent proposition. They were eying him out from the bar the whole time you tried your feminine wiles on him. I think he's proved he's serious." Not that she hadn't thought he was being less than truthful last night. If she was being honest herself the only reason it had taken her this long to decide to dress up and meet him was because she been trying to work up the nerve.

Tonight meant she was giving him the green light. There would be no rules or recounts. The only way she knew she'd walk in there is if she didn't put any expectations on tonight. They liked each other, they'd started out as friends, they were just moving a step in a new direction. And if she kept herself firmly planted in the present, she'd be able to handle anything that came her way.

"Okay, go get your guy," Lois offered. "He looks like he's about to choke."

"Bruce, no way. He's got nerves of steel." Chloe defended confidently.

Chloe started toward the restaurant and watched as a cat fight broke out in front of Bruce's table. She sighed. If this was a glimpse of what she'd have to face on a regular basis, she had better get use to it now. It wasn't as though she'd never had to defend her turf before.

Inside the restaurant

She watched Bruce's face light up with a mixture of joy and relief at seeing her. The maître d' smiled in obvious approval, making the connection and ushered Chloe to Bruce's table.

"Are you my angel, come to rescue me?" Bruce beamed as he stood to help her into her chair.

Chloe blushed. "Do you need rescuing?"

"Like you wouldn't believe," he groaned softly.

"Your waiter will be here shortly, Mr. Wayne. Miss." With a short bow, the host left their table and Bruce took her hand.

"You left me here long enough. So did I pass?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Chloe smiled. "In Lois' terms - with flying colors. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Personally, I was ready to rescue you when that woman tried smothering you in her decolletage."

A few minutes before Lois had descended on him, an older woman had pretended to trip and had fallen into Bruce. He'd politely helped her to her feet and sent her on her way.

"You've really never dined alone before have you?"

Bruce shook his head. "Not publicly. I eat alone plenty at the office or at the manor. It's why none of these women would ever fit my life. They think it's all glitz and glamor with fancy parties or exotic getaways every other day, when really it's marathon business days and pretty mundane nights."

Chloe tried not to let her secret knowledge of how wrong he was show on her face. Pretty mundane nights, yeah they were run of the mill all right. For an adrenaline junkie. "I can do mundane. I think that's pretty much every night of the week for me. I'm either writing up commentary for the news blog, last minute articles on a ten o'clock deadline or watching Seinfeld re-runs."

"Sounds like fun? Is he the Jewish comedian?"

Chloe laughed. "You don't watch a lot of TV, do you? What does Bruce Wayne do with his off hours, I wonder?"

Bruce smiled uncomfortably. "Read. I like old books. Historical fiction, biographies, science journals. Kind of boring, huh?"

Chloe shook her head. "No, I love reading. How can you write and not love to read? I love obscure journals and delving into the unknown. My favorite book growing up was Tales of the Weird and Unexplained by Aleya Naiman. I'm a skeptic. I don't think there's anything that can't be explained. We just don't have all the answers."

Bruce beamed at her. "I share your belief but something I'm never going to be comfortable with is magic. There's a lot I could find out but I'm not sure I'd like the answers, so I leave it alone."

Chloe nodded in agreement. "It's scarily easy for Zatanna. I don't think I'm comfortable with any kind of magic either. No trips to Oz for me thank you very much, this Dorothy likes her feet firmly planted in reality."

Bruce chuckled. "You never did tell me how you knew Zatanna?"

Chloe sighed. "She found me on my birthday last year and gave me a wish I didn't know I asked for. At least not consciously. I turned into Lois for a day."

Bruce's eyes widened. "So she did inherit her father's ability," he murmured to himself. "That would have been an enlightening experience, I'd bet. Shape shifting or body swap?" he asked.

"The first. I called Lois as soon as I realized what happened to make sure she was okay. Lucky we were borders apart so no one but Clark was the wiser. Having to explain myself once was enough. We've had body snatchers before."

Bruce grimaced. "You did tell me about that. The prom queen."

"Among others."

Bruce frowned. "Before I thought, why on earth a small town girl would want to live in a city like Gotham? Now I'm thinking you'll actually be safer here."

Chloe laughed lightly. "I don't know. Weird has a habit of finding me where ever I go."

The waiter arrived with their menus. "Would you like any drinks to start?"

Bruce nodded. "A bottle of the house wine and whatever the chef recommends to accompany our meals later."

"Very good, sir."

Chloe looked over the menu and glanced up at Bruce over the cover. "You've been here before, you pick. Just nothing with crustaceans, they don't agree with me."

Bruce laughed. "That's two thirds of the menu. Chloe, you do realize we're at a seafood restaurant."

Chloe blushed and blinked at him. "I know," she said waving him off. "You were raving about it, so I was curious. I like fish. They have fish don't they?"

Bruce chuckled and pursued the menu before closing it. "They do. You're not allergic to crustaceans though right? Because I'm sure they share kitchen utensils and there'd be traces of it in everything."

Chloe shook her head. "Nothing like that, I've just got a gag reflex. The smell, combined with the texture...I try to avoid the experience."

"Right. Well, the Kingfish is nice. It smoked with tobiko mayonnaise, fennel and witlof salad, spelt blini, topped off with horseradish cream and scallop dust."

Chloe tried not to make a face at the last note. "Sounds delicious."

Bruce smirked and motioned to the waiter. "Two of the Kingfish, one without the scallop dust. Thank you."

"I'll pass that along, sir. Thank you." The waiter took their menus and headed for the kitchen.

Chloe leaned in. "You didn't have to do that."

Bruce smiled. "And have you gagging on a perfectly good dinner. No. When I mentioned the scallops, you started to look a little green."

Chloe blushed. "I never could fool Lois in poker."

Bruce grinned. "Why does Lois cleaning up at poker not surprise me."

"She grew up surround by men. I guess all the girls in my family have. However being a General's daughter, Lois got more than a bit of the usual tomboyish traits. Lois got camouflage paint and combat training for her birthday when other girls were getting Barbie and My Little Pony. She can take down most guys in her sleep, and she took out a line backer drunk."

"Let me guess, he tried to get friendly?"

"Yep, she beat him at a drinking game and he was a sore loser. Wanted compensation."

Bruce chuckled. "She's remarkably girly under her brash exterior. Curious, for someone who's had that kind of intense upbringing."

"I think that's largely Martha Kent's influence. Lois lived with the Kents for awhile when we were in high school. If anyone can put lady into a ladette, it's Martha," Chloe said fondly.

"She's certainly doing an impressive job straightening out the men in D.C."

Chloe beamed. "She has a way about her. Trust me, if you ever meet her, you'll have a hard time saying no. Martha can be very persuasive."

While they waited for their meals, she turned her head to look out the wall of glass facing the harbor. Gotham's harbor was beautiful at night. The Knights Dome lights playing off the water, Lady Gotham standing silently off shore, the lights proudly revealing her monument to justice. Chloe smiled. To be impartial, fair and swift.

"You know, Batman reminds me of what Lady Gotham stands for, fearful judgment," Chloe said thoughtfully, staring at the tall statute in the distance.

Bruce studied her face, she was truly beautiful to behold both inside and out. She spoke of Batman as though he was someone to be admired and a muscle twitched tightly in his chest at her words. He always hoped there would be someone else. Someone he could share his burden with. For so long it seemed like his only outlet would be his journals. After he lost Rachel, he thought he'd never find anyone else willing to accept him. In hindsight, he wondered if Rachel ever really had. She'd been dating Harvey after only a few months after telling him she'd wait for him. She insisted on keeping him at arms length until she was sure he would give up the mask. Alfred had said she'd been angry when he hadn't given himself up at the press conference, even he'd been at a loss as to how to respond at Harvey's actions for a long moment. Until he realized what had to be done and who he needed to be.

"Doesn't he scare you? The guy dresses up like a bat, he could probably give half of Arkham a run for the basket case stakes."

Chloe smiled nervously and rubbed her neck unconsciously. "Sure, if he surprised me in a dark alley, probably. Like you said, he looks like a giant bat." She shivered slightly and rubbed her arms where goose pimples had appeared. "Bad experience."

Bruce smiled and sipped his wine. "Who hasn't had one? I feel down a well when I was eight. Thought the things were going to skin me alive."

Chloe nodded in empathy, fingering her utensils, trying to shake off her nerves. "A few years ago, I got infected with venom from a bunch of radioactive vampire bats," she shivered again.

Bruce's face turned serious. "You were bitten?" No wonder the thought of bats freaked her out.

Chloe shook off the chills and smiled slightly. "Lucky for me I had a very determined friend, who procured a cure. Everyone that had been infected returned to normal. Actually, it was the story that impressed Pauline Kahn to rehire me. Even though she never published it."

Bruce smiled. "That's a shame, I think it would have made for interesting reading."

Chloe laughed. "Interesting is a nice way of putting it. She said it was something more suited to the Inquisitor. I think she was hinting at my journalistic integrity but I assure you that it was all fact and documented by reputable sources."

"From you, I'd never doubt it."

Dinner passed by quickly with easy conversation and they shared a slice of white chocolate mousse cake with strong black coffee before taking a stroll along the boardwalk. Arm in arm, they laughed and leaned into each other as they looked over the city.

"What made you stay in Gotham? You ran The Isis Foundation in Metropolis and Lois is there. It's crime rate is significantly lower. You're not likely to get mugged in broad daylight."

"Too many memories. Painful ones. I'd been hanging onto something I should have let go of a long time ago. A fresh start seemed like the perfect opportunity to prove to myself that I could have the dream I always wanted."

"Which is?"

"To be an ace reporter, a truth seeker and one who can hopefully win a Pulitzer some day. It's a kid's dream but I don't think it's an unrealistic one."

Bruce hugged her to his side. "And a good one. You have a simple dream, Chloe. If everyone could be as easily pleased as you then the world would be a much happier place."

"What about you? What's your dream?" Chloe asked angling her head to watch his face.

Bruce's brow furrowed and his eyebrows drew together. Chloe knew that look, it was his deep thinking face. She elbowed him playfully. "Not so serious."

Bruce tensed before forcing himself to relax. "Sorry."

Chloe chewed the inside of her cheek realizing what she'd just said. Scouring her brain she searched for a way to redeem herself from her insensitive blunder. "I mean, I know what you want professionally. You told me already." She smiled hopefully. "But what do you want for yourself."

Bruce smiled and stared down into her eyes. "I would have thought that was rather obvious."

They stopped walking and Chloe felt her cheeks warm. Bruce put his arms around her and lowered his head. "I want to kiss you, if that's okay," he whispered huskily.

Chloe could only nod mutely as his lips descended on hers. The kiss left her stomach a flutter and her lips singing.

Bruce chuckled softly at her dazed expression and he nuzzled her nose before kissing her forehead."Want to see what the cityscape looks like at night?"

Chloe nodded, if they thought alike she imagined that their spot would be completely deserted at this hour and the sight breathtaking. "I'm up for the look out if you are?" she teased playfully. "Feel like living a little dangerously?"

Bruce smirked down into her glittering turquoise colored eyes. "Gotta please the lady and she says she lives for the thrill of life. I guess, I have to indulge her."

The park was five minutes by cab and they raced each other to the lookout. She would have felt better giving him a fair run if she'd been wearing sneakers but she had a feeling that he been giving less than half his best. He wasn't even breathing heavily when they reached the top of the grassy knoll.

"I guess I'm gonna have to join a gym if I'm gonna keep up with you," Chloe said a little out of breath.

"Nah," Bruce said with a small chuckle. "I like the fact that most men are oblivious to how gorgeous you are. If you start running around in bike short and tank tops, I might have to start working on a menacing growl."

Chloe tried not to laugh but was unsuccessful, letting out a very unladylike snort.

Bruce scowled. "What's funny?"

Chloe smiled, shaking her head furiously. "I don't even own a pair of spandex pants, and I would never even dare seat foot outside in anything like that. Totally Lois' look not mine. And I don't know, you intimidate women sure with your Casanova prowess, maybe the odd business stuff shirt but the average guy, I'd have to see it to believe it." Chloe said inclining her head thoughtfully. She knew she was baiting him but she couldn't help it. As if he needed work on being any more fearsome. His alter ego was probably the most feared and mythified vigilante of all time.

Bruce shed his jacket and lay it out on the grass before sitting. He patted the jacket. "Sit."

Chloe sat down and beamed across at him, nudging his shoulder with hers. "Why Mr. Wayne is this a seduction act in play? Warm night, secluded spot bathed in romantic moonlight under the trees..."

As lovely as she was, sitting there all teasing and fringing being coy, Bruce had been fighting primitive urges all night and alone, in their spot, he wouldn't let opportunity be lost. His kissed her neck, just behind her ear. It was a pulse point and smelt of vanilla, jasmine and scent that was completely unique to her. Pheromones. All Chloe. He sucked and kissed lightly, hearing her stunned silence turned to soft moans. He lifted his hands and palmed her back, pulling her in closer.

Chloe turned her head and captured his mouth. Thrusting the fingers of her left hand into his dark locks, she cupped the back of his head. Her fingers slid easily through his waxy, soft waves and she twisted her hand bringing his head closer to hers, fusing their lips together.

Bruce teased her bottom lip lightly with his teeth, loving the lush tender feel of them. He ran his tongue lightly over her plump lower lip and nipping it again before kissing her thoroughly.

Chloe wouldn't be subdued, his attentions triggered something inside her and she felt more alive than she had in a long time. Her fingers hooked around his tie and as she leaned back against the grass, she brought him down with her. He kept part of his weight off her by resting on one arm above her, but the other was currently engaged in drawing very distracting thumb pad circles next to the hollow of her neck.

Bruce worked his way down the smooth skin of her throat, pressing kisses to her satiny skin before moving back up and capturing her mouth.

As he pulled and kissed her lips, Chloe wreathed against him and inadvertently arched into him. Something firm and warm met her abdomen and her whole body coiled tightly in recognition. Chloe closed her eyes and kissed him back as though he was her life blood. Looping her right leg behind his knee, she pulled him flush against her. "All the sleuth skills in the world and you couldn't find me before now," Chloe moaned softly.

Inside, she was coming apart. Fireworks were streaming off in all directions, setting sparks of electricity all over her body. His tongue teased at the edge of her mouth and she opened her lips, pulling him in. She could taste the hint of coffee still left on his breath and she stroked her tongue against his, while sucking him at the same time.

Chloe didn't know how it happened but suddenly she felt a rush of warmth wash over her, ending in a rapid pulsing low in her body. Chloe trembled against him, biting back a moan, she waited for the wave of sensations to recede. Opening her eyes, she saw his blue eyes watching her intently and she suddenly felt very exposed and vulnerable. Turning her face, she hid in the crook of his neck.

Bruce shifted her leg that was locked around his, and rolled to his back, holding her to his side. He kept one arm firmly locked around her waist, not wanting to lose the contact they shared. His free hand found one of hers and he intertwined their fingers. He could feel her breathing against his neck. She was as deeply affected as he was. Did what he think happened, just happen?

"Wow," Chloe whispered finding her voice.

Bruce tightened his grip on her, hugging her to his side. "So it wasn't bad?" he voice sounded odd to his ears, he hadn't intended to sound needy or uncertain. He'd meant to defuse an intense moment by what he hoped was a light teasing comment.

Chloe brought their hands to rest over the center of his chest, she could feel how hard his heart was beating. It seemed to match her own rhythm. There was also a fine sheen of sweat dotting his brow. She felt cool all over, the warm breeze suddenly felt cold. She shivered against him. "If by bad you mean, you just might have given me my first fully clothed orgasm, I'd say absolutely terrible, yeah."

Bruce fought to keep his face from breaking into a full blown satisfied grin and failed miserably.

Chloe laughed lightly at his expression and leaned happily into his chest. "I guess that puts the bar way up there now though, so I wouldn't get all celebratory yet if I were you."

Bruce chuckled with her and brought their hands to the lips. "As I've said before, you keep me firmly grounded."

"I guess we better get going before get arrested for indecent PDA," she said reluctantly sitting up and breaking their embrace. The sound of a phone buzzing shattered the moment and Chloe smirked humorously as she read the caller ID. "Lois. She does have perfect timing."

Bruce sat up and ran a hand through his hair, watching her with a bemused expression as she answered her phone.

"Yes, Lois?"

"Do do I have to find my own way home or are you going to come pick me up? I left the car with you remember."

Chloe looked and Bruce and cringed at Lois' voice. As usual her conversational tone was at the level of almost yelling. She could tell from Bruce's face that he could hear every word she said. "Ah, I'm not at the restaurant anymore. We took a walk."

"That's what you're calling it now."

Chloe's face flamed, Lois wasn't half wrong. If Bruce didn't have better impulse control than she did they might have wound up doing a lot more than kissing. She'd totally lost her head, practically dry humping him in the grass. "If you can get back to the car park, you can use the spare," Chloe suggested helpfully.

"Okay fine. I'm just going to finish my burger..."

"You're only just eating now. What have you been doing?" Chloe asked, her eyebrows raised.

"Cleaning up. These guys totally suck at pool."

Chloe rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Only you Lo. I hope you left them with enough to get home."

Lois snorted. "Not my problem. Don't bet what you can't lose."

Chloe was so engrossed in the conversation, that she almost didn't notice Bruce tense next to her. She followed the direction that he was looking and scrambled to her feet when the figures came out of the shadows.

"Well, well, Bruce. Imagine finding you here."

The woman headed towards them was stunning. With hair akin to naked flames and skin like porcelain, and the body of a goddess, Chloe felt like the village pixie in her shadow. Her forest green eyes were anything but benevolent however, and she glared menacingly at Bruce. "You ruined me. It's my turn."

"Pamela, we did everything we could for you."

The tall Amazonian like woman laughed mockingly. "Everything! Everything to cover your own hide. You hid me a way in a little hospital and stole all my research, sweeping it all under the rug like it never happened. I suppose you all hoped I'd die from my injuries. But guess fate thought I should live. Mother Nature bestode me with her abundant gifts and I intend to use them."

"You just need more counseling, Pamela. I promise, we'll sit down and talk. Just the two of us."

"No. There was a time when I would have done anything for you Bruce. Forgiven you anything. If you'd just looked at me like I was someone important. But you couldn't even see me as a person. You denied me basic rights. Locked me up in a nut house. I will get my money and I will finish my work. Take him."

Chloe dropped into a fighting stance, prepared to do her part to help fend off these thugs and go after the red head. She didn't know if Bruce had a policy on fighting girls so she wouldn't wait and let the woman get the upper hand.

The men stalked toward them.

"Chloe what's going on?"

It was Lois' voice. She'd completely forgotten that the line was still open.

"Lo, send help. We're at the look--"

Chloe turned to see Pamela cosied up to Bruce while he stared adoringly into her eyes. She didn't know when the woman had closed the distance but she had. The phone was ripped from her fingers and tossed into the distant trees.

"Let's go, love," she crooned in Bruce's ear.

Chloe stood in amazement at the scene infront of her before springing into action. Bruce had obviously been drugged, he looked like he was in some kind of trance. "He's not going anywhere with you," she hissed angrily. She tried to pry Bruce from the woman's hold but he wouldn't budge. It was like he'd become immovable stone.

"Bruce, darling. Get ride of the prairie tramp would you."

Bruce turned to her with glassy eyes and shoved Chloe to the ground. He then turned back to the woman, and she kissed him full on the lips with a passion that made Chloe's stomach churn.

Her eyes smarting, Chloe watched them horror.

"The boss might like to have her. She might be useful," one of the thugs suggested.

Pamela waved him off dismissively. "She's your responsibility. Just remember, Waddles is none the wiser. You found her on the street. Have fun."

Chloe got to her feet angrily, prepared to give these guys a piece of her mind. They sized her up greedily, their faces practically snarling with excitement. Were they men or pit bulls? Her hair bristled on the back of her neck and a feeling of dread curled in pit of her stomach. Two against one, hardly fair odds but she'd been trained to weather worse. As they circled her like sharks, she tried to force the image of Bruce and Pamela locking lips out of her mind. Whatever hold the woman had on him, it was a fair guess that the longer he stayed in her company the worse it was going to get. She had to find him.

Author's notes:

Wow. Humbly I thank you; arfcity and for the favorite author add. I'm blown away.
Also for all the fave story adds: queencordy44, Valkyrie Song, 4321, Sculllyga, Vic Tenn, .

To everyone who reviewed; arfcity , Xyraeliemna, Sculllyga, queencordy44, Faere, xxh2o-fanxx, Rocio, , I will answer each one of you by reply. Thank you all very much. I appreciate the feedback.

To all the new readers; queencordy44, Sculllyga, noe224evr, Vic Tenn, and Swytla, welcome to my SV/DC universe.