"Son, you've crossed the border into obsessed-ville." The Riddler smiled, twirling his question mark cane. He, along with the Penguin, were looking at the photos of one Danni Lynne Swagger. There were hundreds of them of her at work, hunched over paper work or looking down the scope of a rifle, with her partner and his family, her family, but the most were of her and Bruce Wayne.
"I'm not obsessed, I'm in love and once I get rid of him" pointing to Bruce's face in a photo "she'll love me too. Now lets plan our attack."
"Who do you like, Edward or Jacob?" Sandy had convinced Danni into watching 'Twilight' while baby Danni took a nap.
"Jacob, no doubt. Wolves are better then vamps."
"You know, when you think about it; you're like Jacob and Rachel was Edward."
"So Bruce is Bella? Torn between his soul mate and best friend who he also loves?" Danni was skeptic when Sandy made references like that.
"Well, yeah. Think about it, you were his best friend for a long time and you grew to love him."
"True, but Rachel knew as well if not better then I did. But then she met Harvey and knew he was the one for her.
She remembered when Rachel had told her about Harvey proposing:
"Harvey proposed last night" Rachel was looking into her salad as she said this. Once a week the friends had lunch together.
"What did you say?" Danni knew that Rachel still loved Bruce but not the same as it had been years ago.
"I said I had to think about it. With everything going on now, taking down the mob and tracking Joker, its not the right time."
"Does he know that you still love Bruce?"
"He knows we're good friends. Besides I don't love him as much as you" She smiled at her younger friends shocked face.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Dan, you have loved him since he and your brothers saved you and Donny from those jerks."
"How many guys besides brothers would do that? Any way back to you and Harvey. Are you going to say 'yes'?"
"I am. I love him and I want to be with him and I want you to be my maid of honor."
Danni had to wipe her tears way as she watched the credits roll and Linkin Park's 'Leave out all the rest' started to play. "Well, I better head home. Now that Don's home, he freaks when I'm out too long."
"Forever the protective brother huh?"
"Thinks he's bad, remember when the others were home and we were out late?"
"Who could forget." Sandy was glad Danni was doing better since her brothers death. "Bye hon. Get home safe ok." The two hugged and Danni kissed the baby softly on the forehead. Grabbing her motorcycle jacket off a chair and her helmet off the floor. Waving goodbye as she walked out the door, she failed to see or hear the masked stranger sneak up behind her and hit her in the head. Her glossy black camo helmet fell to the pavement with dull thud.
"Bruce, is Danni over at you place?" Donny paced the living room as he spoke on the phone.
"No, she usually comes later. Why, isn't she home yet?"
"No and I check at Jack's and he told me she left their place hours ago. I'm starting to freak out." He ran one hand over his partially shaved head as looked out the window, just to see if she was coming up the drive.
"Calm down, Don. I'll try her cell again and you call your uncle. Maybe she stopped to see the kids."
"Hi, you reached Danni Swagger. I'm not available right now, so leave a message and get back to ya." Danni's voice mail was all he got.
"Alfred, you don't think something's happened to her, do you?" Bruce was starting to worry. When Danni missed a call, she called right back, especially when it from Bruce, Donny, Jack, and Gordon.
"I'm sure she's fine sir. She has been through worse, I'm sure."
"LET ME GO YOU SONS OF BITCHES OR I SWEAR ON EVERYTHING THAT IS HOLY, I WILL MAKE YOU HURT!" Danni fought the chains that had her tied to a bed. She had woken up to headache and observed her surroundings. It was big room that was poorly lit. Her jacket was off, revealing her tight black t-shirt.
"Don't bother, no one can here you". A figure walked out of the shadows. He was tall and dressed in a bright green suit with black question marks all over it. In his hand was a large can, also designed in a question mark.
"You do look like your brother, only prettier." He began to walk forward. He had a smile that reminded her of Joker, minus the paint and scars.
"What the fuck did expect? We're twins, you psycho. And when my brother, partner, uncle and boyfriend find me, your gonna be begging for a padded cell at Arkham."
"Your boyfriend? You expect me to believe billion heir Bruce Wayne is gonna get his hands dirty to find you?" He roughly grabbed her hair.
"Riddler, boss said not to touch her." A short nasally man long stringy red hair and a long pointed nose man in a tux interrupted the possible torture. Danni recognized the man as the Penguin.
"Your boss? Who would crazy enough to work with you loons?"
"Your brother at one point did."
"Call my brother crazy one more time, I dare you." Danni gave them the scariest face she could.
"Ohh! I see why the boss wants you!" The two left her there as they exited the room.
Donny sat on the couch, drumming his fingers loudly on the coffee table. He looked up and saw everyone looking at him, annoyed at the noise. "Sorry. Nervous."
Jim and Jack were making a list of anyone who would want to take Danni. But they came up with nothing.
Bruce was in his room, sitting on his bed. In his hand was the ring. He was planning on asking her that weekend. He looked on her side of his bed and saw her night shirt hanging off the edge. He picked it up and lifted it to his face and inhaled her scent. Her Sweet Pea Shampoo mixed with Rose Petal body lotion. He tightly closed his eyes as tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Please don't let me loose her" he whispered as he laid down, still clutching her shirt and fell asleep.
SAME TIME:
Danni fought to stay wake. She was afraid of what would happen if she fell asleep and the main goon who was holding her finally showed his face. But that wasn't the only thing she was worried about. She worried about Donny. He finally comes home from one hell and then loses his only living sibling.
She worried about Jack, hoping he wouldn't blame himself. Evers since they became partners, they promised to always have each other's back.
Then there was uncle Jim, who had practically raised her after her parents died. Aunt Barbra, who help through the "female moments" in her life. Sadly she smiled at the day Barbra had taken her bra shopping for the first time.
"I know they're uncomfortable, Hon, but you'll get used to it.
"It doesn't make my chest look too big?" 13 year old Danni Swagger asked her aunt as the two looked at the reflection of Danni in blue jeans and black bra, her first one to be exact.
"You look fine, sweetie."
Most of all, she worried about Bruce. He had always what would happen to her if he died, never the other way around. She had always had a few close calls, but it was because of him that kept her fighting.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a new voice. "You look cold. Want a blanket?"
She immediately recognized the voice. It had been almost a year since she had last seen him. He had held her as she cried into three folded American flags. "Rick?" It was Donny's best friend and partner in the war.
Sorry it took for ever. Who ever guessed it was Rick that took Danni, you get a gold star! Hope the next chapter won't take as long.
