AN:
I think this chapter might be better than the others. I used some more time with this. :) But please tell me what you think.

Chapter 11

The sky was clear and bright blue as Lori came walking into the parking lot, a couple of minutes before her fifth class. She strolled over to get to the school building, but stopped half on her way. Standing there, she glared at the building in front of her, loathing to step foot inside. Sighing heavily she made her way toward the entrance.

Walking across the parking lot she suddenly heard someone shouting at her.

"Lori!" a girlie voice shouted. Lori knew who it was and turned around to meet a pair of emerald green eyes and long red hair. It was Madeline Duffman, one of the most popular girls at Lori's school. Although she had seen Madeline around, Lori never talked with her.

"Hey!" she shouted, giggling wildly. She smiled, showing off her white and probably new polished teeth, which blinded Lori every time when the sun shined on them. "So," she said, giggling even more. "I have heard everything! Oh my god, it's so cool!"

Lori was stunned and had no absolutely no idea of what she was chatting about. "Sorry?" she said confused, and somewhat afraid to hear what the new school gossip was. "What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about!"

"I do?"

"Come one, don't play stupid. I saw you with him. Olivia, Sam, John and I saw you go with him." She giggled out her words.

Lori frowned and stared at Madeline. "You saw me with whom?" she asked.

Madeline smiled widely. "Oh please. We saw you with him, Gotham's billionaire. Bruce Wayne!" She giggled when she said his name. "So, are you two together or what?"

Lori stared blankly at her for a moment. Clearing her throat she finally spoke. "No, we are, uhm, not together. I fell, cut my knee, and he was only being nice and tried to help me. End of story. Now, please stop this gossiping."

"Too bad," Madeline said quietly. "He's a great catch, especially, no offense of course, if you don't have so much money."

"Would you please stop?" Lori barked at Madeline. "Anyway, it's only trouble with high school girls flirting with a grown man."

"So does that mean that's he is available?" Madeline asked, raising her eyebrows and smiling.

"Just go ahead, he's all yours," Lori said, sighing. "He's more your type."

"You think?"

"The perfect match," Lori said, trying to keep a straight face. She smiled to herself, imagining Bruce and Madeline together. Despite the age difference they would have looked good together. Gotham's playboy and the city's most popular teen girl nicknamed 'Sexy Maddie'. Yep, perfect.

"Wish me luck then," Madeline smiled and walked away. Lori knew that Madeline would easily get in contact with Bruce Wayne as Madeline's father had been Lori's stepfather's colleague, working together for Wayne Enterprises. She couldn't count how many times she had heard Madeline bragging about her father's lunch meetings with Mr. Wayne, though Lori really knew that it was a lie.

Watching her as she disappeared in the school crowd, Commissioner Gordon suddenly approached her.

"Miss Davis," he said warmly.

"Commissioner," she nodded, with much less warmth. Lori still remembered their last meeting when he was questioning her about her stepfather's murder and when she had yelled at him about Batman. She could definitely say that it had not gone that well.

He nodded and smiled to other students passing by, but once more, Lori was the person being sought. "May I speak with you in private, Lori?"

"What can I help you with, Commissioner?" Lori asked.

She was surprised when he took her by the elbow and guided her gently away from the crowds. "I need to tell you something," he said to her, and the note of quiet desperation in his voice was enough to make her go completely still.

"What's wrong?" Lori studied Gordon's face; she did not know him very well, but it seemed as though he had aged quickly since the last time she had seen. It was nothing she could put her finger on, nothing very visible, just a sense that the many of Gotham's problems had laid a hand onto Gordon's shoulders, and he was finding it a burden not to his liking.

"You're working in a bookstore, aren't you?"

"Uhm, yeah I am. Why?" Lori said.

"Is it named Lancer's books?"

Lori snorted. "Yeah, you can't really say that Mr. Lancer have such an imagination."

"Mr. Lancer is dead."

"What?!?" Lori shrieked. Feeling her knees shivering, she stumbled backwards and sank down onto a bench, dropping her bag. "When did he die?"

"We found him this morning around 9'o clock," Gordon explained. "And according to a working schedule which hung on the wall, it said that you were to suppose to be working this morning."

"Yeah um, on Thursdays I work instead of study in the mornings," Lori said quietly.

"But you weren't there when we came. This morning, did you go to work at all?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No, I did not. I told Mr. Lancer that I was not feeling okay, and took the day off," Lori explained, folding her hands on her lap. "Maybe you don't understand, but my stepfather were just killed less than two days ago, and you believe that I would actually feel well enough that I would be able to go to work, is that right?"

"No, of course not. I was just wondering where you were. The guy who found Mr. Lancer told me that he was just walking by the store and when he peeked in, he saw blood splatter all over the floor. The main window was also broken and thousands of shards were spread around the room," Gordon told her and sighed heavily. "There is something I think you should know about his death."

"What it is?" Lori asked.

"Mr. Lancer was killed in the same way as your stepfather. He was also shot between the eyes," Gordon said, rubbing his head.

"And you think what? That there was a connection between these two murders?" Lori asked.

"Maybe, but I'm not sure yet of what to believe. The strange thing about this is that both of them were people which seemed like you didn't care much for." He paused for a moment and turned to Lori. "Miss, do you own a gun?"

"A gun? What the heck do you mean? I didn't kill them!" Lori yelled through her teeth, almost spitting out the words. "No, I don't own a gun, okay? I don't like weapons at all – they're only making everything much worse."

"I understand. I just had to ask, to be sure you know," Gordon said. "Look here, it seems like people you know gets killed."

"Not everyone," Lori commented.

Gordon frowned. "What does that mean?"

"You're still here," Lori said and made a face.

"That was not funny, kid. You should take this a little more seriously if you don't want to get killed as well." He spoke in a deep and roughly voice and Lori knew that he meant it. He sighed before he spoke. "I understand at this time, you're living alone in your stepfather's house, but you can't stay there forever. I have spoken with Sandra Millock, who works with foster care, and she told me that there is someone who would like to adopt you. There is set up a meeting on Sunday and they would like you to–"

"No, I don't want to," Lori quickly interrupted. "I don't want to live with other people who are just strangers to me. I'm 16 and soon 17! I can take care of myself."

"No, you can't do that. You're just a girl," he said. "You need protection and you won't find it in that old, empty apartment. Besides, some people were there and packed up your stuff. They're at the Police Department. You can pick them up there..." He paused. "Please Lori, you need help."

"I don't want any help, neither your protection," she yelled at him, her face reddening. "I don't want to need other people. I'm doing fine just on my own."

"Then fine. Just suit yourself." Breathing heavily he turned his back against Lori. He was just about to walk away when he looked back over his shoulder. "Do me a favor and please show up at the meeting. It's on Sunday at 3'o clock. And don't be late." With that, he left Lori all alone at the bench.

Lori buried her head in her hands, not knowing what she should do. Suddenly – a jolt of pain ran through her body, but then she noticed that the pain was not physically. It was inside her. Anger was growing inside her body and it was burning her. She screamed silently, letting out the anger she had held in and fell back onto the bench.

She shivered slightly in her red sweatshirt that she wore, shaking her head in attempt get rid of all her thoughts. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself soaring through the sky with silver wings. Lori hadn't forgotten about the 'Caped Crusader'. She wished she could be like him. So confident and so free. Well, not really free, but he did what he wanted to do. He had wanted to do something good for Gotham and he had done it, by becoming the Batman. She just wished that everyone would see the same in him as she did.

Lori picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. It was a bad idea coming to school. I did really need a day off, she thought as she glanced back at the building. Pivoting on her heels, she rushed over the parking lot. She crossed the closest street and hurried up the sidewalk. Glancing up, Lori saw the difference in the sky. Just some minutes ago it had been bright blue. Now it was frightening, dark, and filled with water bearing clouds. Suddenly bright purple streak of lightening danced across the sky. Within seconds a loud roar of thunder was heard overhead. She was going to have to walk five blocks to the nearest bus stop or seven blocks to the nearest subway station. Either way, since she was already in a bad mood she didn't want to have to walk in the rain.

Fearing she was going to get caught in the rain, Lori hurriedly started her five block walk. Lori only made it to the end of the block before another fight of lightning and thunder fight above her. As she crossed another street, she felt the warning drops of rain on her skin. As she gazed around, she could see everyone had already run for cover. She stood alone on the once crowded avenue.

But she ran along anyways. After only four steps on the second block, the sky rip open. Everything around her was immediately soaked. Lori picked up her speed to a sprint. I should've brought an umbrella, she thought as she hurried through the street.

At the end of the third block, Lori stopped running. I'm already wet, she thought as she slowly strolled along the road. Glancing ahead she could see the shelter of the bus stop. As she went on, she thought of getting out of the rain under the roof of the stop.

Lori was so fixed into thinking about escaping the rain she didn't hear the bus rolling along the street. Since the rain was pouring so quickly, the street had a tiny river flowing along the surface of the sidewalk. When the bus drove by, it splashed loads of water onto her. Feeling shocked with street water sprayed on her, Lori let out a brief scream. Damn that bus. You can ride to hell, she thought bitterly.

"Here," a voice said behind Lori. Startled, she jumped. "Sorry for scaring you. Here you go."

Coming from behind her was a man who had a large umbrella above his head. Lori bit her lips – this man she had seen too many times before. Of course, it was Bruce Wayne.

Why am I not surprised? Lori asked herself, sighing.

In his hand was a black and white handkerchief. Looking at him, Lori took the clean cloth and wiped her face off. She glanced at him and saw that Bruce was wearing a crisp charcoal suit.

"T-thank you," she stuttered, handing Bruce back his handkerchief.

"You're welcome. I saw the bus splash all that water on you. Where's your umbrella?"

Lori hesitated. She couldn't realize that he was still being so nice with her after the way she had behaved to him. "I didn't know it was going to rain. And I was hoping to get to the bus stop before it started." Suddenly feeling embarrassed about being sheltered by him she felt a surge to apologize. "I'm sorry Bruce," she whispered quietly.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for."

"Yes I do. I shouldn't have been so rude to you this morning. All the time since I met you, you have been so friendly and I… I have acted like a jerk who did not appreciate your help."

"Lori, stop…" Bruce smiled at Lori and put a hand on her shoulder. "Everything I did was just because I wanted to help you. And you…you were just having a bad time. I can understand that. Just a small teenage problem. Trust me, it goes over."

Lori grinned at Bruce. "Yeah right…" She thought of what he had said about that small problems would just disappear after a while. But this time, she didn't believe if that could be possible. There had already been too much chaos.

"Now you said you were trying to catch the bus, right?" Bruce asked.

"Yeah," Lori said, seeing that the same bus that had splattered water on her was two blocks away at its stop, letting people on. "I was supposed to take the bus."

"Alfred is waiting in the car around the corner. If you don't mind, we'll drive you home."

Lori considered her two options. She looked at the bus that was now leaving and then down the road she had just traveled. She couldn't see another bus in sight. Then she, obviously hesitating, looked at Bruce. Lori looked into Bruce's dark eyes. She somehow felt safe around him. Looking down the street once more to see a bus-less road, Lori nodded her head as she said "Okay. I'll take a ride with you."

Bruce and Lori walked to the end of the block and then around the corner. It wasn't long until Bruce pointed to a silver Rolls-Royce. Lori looked at her wet clothes, then to Bruce's clean suit and his sparkling new car.

"My clothes are soaking wet," she said. "I can't sit in your car."

"It's fine," he said and suddenly Alfred was standing in front of her, holding the car door open for her.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Davis," Alfred greeted her. Lori smiled slightly and without saying a word she stepped into the car and so did Bruce.

Alfred closed the door, not quite slamming it shut, but with more force than normal and he got into the driver's seat. He made sure the partition between them was closed and set off.

"Thanks again," Lori suddenly said after a long silent. "For letting me ride with you."

"Ah, no problem. Don't think about it, really." Bruce smiled his congenially smile, and Lori smiled somewhat insecure back. "So, where do you live?" he asked.

Lori made her smile falter a little and she glanced out the car window. She swallowed hard and went on. "Right now, I don't really know. The apartment I lived in belonged to my stepfather, he bought it. And it seems like that now he is dead, I cannot live there anymore."

"Who told you this?" he asked.

"The Commissioner did. I met him earlier today." Lori shook her head and smiled wryly. "He doesn't believe I can take care of myself. Gotham is obviously 'too dangerous' for a girl like me," Lori said ironically and snorted. "They fear what they don't understand, but they don't even bother trying to take the time to understand it."

"And you do?" Bruce asked.

"Yes, I believe so. Or at least I try," Lori replied. "But most people don't because they are afraid of what this fear could be."

"I've never thought about it in that way," Bruce said quietly and glanced at Lori. "You speak wise words to be so young."

"Yeah, it's because of my mother. She always had an answer to everything that bothered me. 'Why is the grass green?' or…" She suddenly paused for a moment and sat still.

Bruce glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that she was struggling with something. It wasn't until now he noticed that hot tears were streaming down her face. "What's wrong? Did I say anything or did I do anything?"

Lori shook her head sadly. "No, there's nothing with you," she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "There is just this one question I used to ask my mother all the time…" She closed her eyes and laid her head backwards. "Why do people kill?" More tears were coming. "I asked her that question the day she was killed… I'm so stupid…"

Bruce felt a lump in his throat and swallowed hard to get rid of it. "I'm sorry about your mother," he said, trying to calm her down. He could see that her mother's murder had a great effect on Lori.

"Thank you." There was sadness in her eyes. "She was the light of my life. I was only 8 years old when it she died." Lori peeked out the window. "Just pull in here. There is a small hotel where I can stay; it's on the corner of this street. It's right where I live, or lived…"

"Don't be such a fool," Bruce snapped at her. "I'm not letting you stay at that hotel. Ah, it looks like you'll have to stay another night at Wayne Manor. Alfred!" Flipping his fingers, Alfred pushed a button and the partition between them slowly opened. "Just drive to Wayne Manor, Alfred."

"As you wish, Sir." Alfred speeded up and set off to Wayne Manor.

Lori held up a finger. "Can I say something here?"

"No," Bruce answered snottily. He then sighed dramatically. "Okay, you can say what you want, but you have got to understand the facts here; you're staying at Wayne Manor even if you like it or not."

All she did was to nod. She realized that she was too tired to argue or protest, and leaned her head backwards against the seat.

"Will you tell me about what happened with your mom?" Bruce asked softly.

Lori gazed into his eyes and found that one part of her wanted to tell him, and another one didn't. "Maybe one day I will, but not today..." She closed her eyes, imagining her mother's face, smiling happily to her and giving her the warm comfort that she needed. Lori was tired and soon she fell asleep. But still, there was one memory which wouldn't let her go, even though she was dreaming.

'Mom, why do people kill people?'

'Maybe it's because people want to hurt other people. Maybe some people just are bad people.'

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