Chapter 20 "Climbing slippery hills"

Disclaimer: not mine.

Note: 28th and 29th August. Plus a flashback.

*****

Chloe walked down the streets of Gotham in dire need of some fresh air and in a feeble attempt to ease the stress. Those last days had been draining in all sorts of ways, and there was a lot coming ahead. She couldn't deny to herself the fact that she was nervous, her system was making a hell of a job there, bombarding her mind with so many thoughts that the apartment had seem clautrophobicly tiny and she'd found herself on dire need for open space and fresh air.

Lost in her thoughts with no apparent exit, Chloe roamed the streets of Gotham with her eyes fixed on the ground.

No. The monotone pavement was not helping, so when she suddenly lifted her head and saw the familiar presence leaning on a wall with both eyes begging for forgiveness for being there, right in the middle of her unplanned route, she was happy for the intrussion.

Chloe walked towards him, eyeing a mixture of sheepness and kindness, as if he was not sure whether she'd like the company or she'd prefer some solitude. After all, she suspected he wanted to say something to her, but never the kind of guy who would go and intrude personal space, he had opted for a safely distant watch.

Chloe hadn't known Dick Grayson on a personal level, but she felt he was that kind of man. So when she saw him there, she smiled. Talking to him would help her get her mind off all the different things that were going happen once she got foot (oh the irony) on Metropolis' soil.

"I hope I didn't make you wait for long," she said still wearing a smile.

"I hope it doesn't bother you. I figured you'd need rest, I didn't have anything to do, so..." He scratched the back of his head and pulled respectful puppy eyes. "Mind sharing your walk?," he asked tentatively.

"In fact thankful for the intrusion," she said receiving a confused look. "Crowded mind, don't ask." Dick didn't ask. They both started walking, and as he would stay silent, Chloe decided to say something. Anything for her mind to rest a little. Even platitudes. "I like Gotham in daylight," was her grand opening. "It's very different."

Dick nodded in full understanding. "It let's us be and feel 'normal' citizens."

Not a question, and never questioned by Chloe, who nodded silently. 'Normal' had such a different meaning for people like them that they sometimes even forgot that it existed. What the rest of the world called 'normal' was actually unreachable for them.

Dick looked at his suddenly silent companion and noticed a slight limp. He stopped and placed his hand on her arm. "Hey, are you ok? You look uncomfortable," he said directing his gaze to her leg.

Chloe followed the baby blues and realized.

"Maybe we should sit," he offered, gaining another Sullivan smile in return for the kindness.

"No, believe me. I've been sitting all day, I really need the exercise. It's just a little stiff. It'll get better."

So they kept walking and Dick didn't push it anymore.

"You did a great job, Chloe," he said.

"It was a team effort, Dick. And I was very lucky to have you guys out there." Chloe looked into the blue eyes. They were still hurting, but the darkest shades seemed to have faded. Both corners of his lips curved slightly upwards, but she decided not to enter emotional personal territory. "How's Dinah, by the way? Didn't get a chance to see her, but heard she took a pretty big fight."

"Knowing her it was probably epic." He turned slightly serious. "She didn't look like wanting to talk about it when I last saw her and anyway, someone was there for her," he said recalling her moment with Barbara's father. "But you know her, right?: 'bruised and battered but you should see the other one'. She's tough."

"Ollie will freak out."

"She won't let him."

Silently agreeing with a smile, Chloe changed the course of conversation. "So, did you want to talk to me about anything?"

"Just thanking you," came the simple reply. "And I already did. Plus a nice walk outside costumes."

It sounded forced. It sounded struggling. It sounded like he was scared out of his pants to tell the truth because he didn't want to hurt her. And Chloe knew what was going on behind the eyes. So she took the lead.

"Dick, it is ok by me if you're not comfortable around me," she replied. "You don't have to do this."

"I know." Pause. "I don't want to sound selfish to you, Chloe, but I need to get used to the fact that there is a new Oracle now." He went silent again, but Chloe waited for the explanations to come his own way. "We...I know we talked about it, and what I said about Babs dividing her identity thus making this easier for me is true. But I still have to find the blend of my lost future and the present I have." He looked at her. "You're on it. An identity on its own or not, Babs was Oracle. Now you're taking that mantle and I need to be comfortable about it. It's..."

She finished for him. "A professional relationship tied to a very personal past and you need to cut those ties without denial but through self direct exposure."

"I sound like a jerk, I know," he said apologetically for the truth spoken.

"You sound honest and sincere, Dick."

Dick turned his head towards the owner of the gentle hand on his shoulder.

"And I don't want to expect anything else from you."

Dick Grayson found that he liked that smile, and decided that for better or worse, he would eventually find that missing perfect blend.

Dick also found that Chloe Sullivan always seemed to know when to change a course of conversation.

"Any word from the Police Department?," she asked out of the blue.

"Bruce is there now. But I wouldn't worry, the evidence is overwhelming, Chloe. I don't think they'll get out of that one."

"I was thinking more about a bigger fish," she said with a frown of concern.

"Luthor?" She nodded. "Is he under custody already?"

"Just a matter of time. There's a team waiting. A single word from Bruce or Ollie and he'll be behind bars. The problem is for how long."

"Too slippery?"

"Like an oiled eel," said Chloe. And her mind went to another set of thoughts slightly troubling her. "Dick," she asked.

"Yeah?"

"Bruce is known for his unbreakable sense of justice. You know him better than anyone I can think of."

"He always does the right thing, Chloe, even when it hurts." During the weeks of exhausting research at the Batcave, Dick had hinted the tension on Superman, to whom, he had learned, Chloe was close.

"I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing right now," said Chloe, her thoughts on Clark. If Bruce thought that Clark was to blame for Barbara's death...Clark was in trouble.

***

Commissioner James Gordon watched the back of the caped man standing on the rooftop. Oblivious to the rain. Still frozen. He couldn't see his face, but the tension of his muscles spoke through his body.

The old man approached his long time friend and remained silent by his side. For a while.

Just a few seconds of ponder.

James Gordon had known Batman for years now. Not only that, but he understood him where many people just saw a dark vigilante. In the old man's eyes, he was far from being that, and James Gordon praised himself privately over being considered a friend of Batman.

"They were told to kill to protect a weapon against Superman." It wasn't really a question. It was a truth, that Batman hadn't seemed to take well.

"They killed your daughter because one man wanted to kill another," he simply stated. There was much more, of course, and he knew Lois would make it public. But Clark was at the core of it, as he had suspected from the beginning.

"They will pay for that," the commissioner said.

"They won't bring Barbara back."

He remained silent for a second. "No. That won't happen."

"She was involved because Superman had asked her to," he insisted.

That statement finally made Gordon realize. He knew that feeling very well.

"You think it is unfair."

"There is no justice when a life is taken."

"Barbara thought there was no justice in what Luthor was doing, did you know that?" Batman turned to look at him. "She told me. We spoke a lot about her work, once she revealed who she was. Not identities," he said, "she just gave me all she could to keep me safe, but also to be able to support herself on me. I was so proud. She made me so proud."

Bruce pressed his lips into a thin line. "I was too."

"Remember that night?," he asked. "When you rescued me from that fair?"

Beaten and psychologically tortured by the Joker using his own daughter, not even knowing if Barbara was alive, if the monster had raped her. "I can't forget it."

"You do recall what I said," he confirmed.

Our way has to work. "Yes."

"He also killed my wife. Because she chose to save those babies' lives. We caught him."

"You had him in front of you. Unarmed."

"My mind...it was out of my control. But still it went back to that night, and I wondered, if I had not spoken to you, if you would've finished it then. If my wife would be alive. If it had been my fault all along."

Bruce listened to him in complete silence.

"I don't know if you said anything to me that night, Batman. Everything is a blur. I can hardly remember. But I felt your presence, that's for sure. And I knew that, despite all the madness, despite the sense it did not make, I had done the right thing, painful as it was. I will never regret it. I guess that's also the only way to live through it. I served justice. If Superman had not asked my daughter to keep an eye on Luthor, Barbara would've ended up doing it herself. Because it was the right thing to do."

"Doesn't help feel any better."

"No. But it is what it is," sentenced Gordon. "However, there was one thing that did make me feel better."

"What was that?"

"Pulling the trigger on that bastard's knee. Making him squeal like a pig."

"Are you suggesting I do the same, Jim?"

"You don't need anyone to tell you what's the right or wrong thing to do, Batman." He paused. "The shot. It just made me feel good. For a few hours. It didn't take the pain away. Didn't give me closure. Just a slight relieve. But not everybody deserves that."

A slight relieve. Yes, maybe that was what Bruce needed. Not revenge. He knew Clark, he knew what he would and would not do. And then he realized they both needed to set things right, but it would have to be him, because Clark would not lift a finger against him. Now he knew what to do. But first things first. And there was a friend standing by his side. "You're leaving after this is over?"

"Yes."

"Will I see you again.?

The question almost made him chuckle. "I don't think I'll find your number on the book," he said.

The dark figure spoke softly and honest. "I will miss you, Jim."

And Gordon was moved by the blunt and unexpected display of care and affection. "I will keep an eye on you, though. To make sure you still do your work."

Bruce smiled. "If there's anything I can do for you..."

"You've done more than enough, my friend. More than I could've ever hoped for." The old man looked at the caped hero and extended his hand. "Goodbye, Batman."

Bruce took the hand and shook it. It wasn't enough.

James Gordon didn't foresee the hug, finding an unforeseen warmth in it. And that was their goodbye. Warm and honest, like somehow he realized their relationship had been over all those years.

***

The ceiling was white. It matched the peace he felt at that moment. Lex. Luthor. Was. Behind. Bars.

Ollie repeated the words mentally a few times. Tasting them, savoring them, believing them. It had finally happened. He closed his eyes to let the rest of his senses focus on the presence slowly stirring at his side. Feeling the warmth of the contact. And turning his head he opened his eyes to be welcomed by two blue orbs staring back at him, half open, making his lips curve up into a smile.

"Good morning."

"It is, isn't it?," said Dinah.

Ollie gently touched the purple skin on her face. "The swelling's almost gone."

"It hardly hurts now."

"And the ribs?," he asked checking if the bandages were still in place.

"Healing more slowly than I would like them to."

"Legs?"

"A big scare. But they're alright."

Ollie kissed her forehead. "Love you, pretty bird."

"Love you too."

"C'mere," he said, laying on his side and showing the space open for her to cuddle by his side, enveloping her softly with his arm so he didn't hurt her. "Heal a little longer with me, ok?"

"Gladly."

***

Gotham City. Fifteen years ago.

"You think you can manage this?"

"I managed with the suicide squad well enough, thanks a lot for your confidence."

"A very questionable choice," he reminded her. Then opted to leave that subject aside and moved onto the present tense. "This is bigger, Barbara. You want to lead a group of women on your own."

She quirked a defiant eyebrow. "Scared of the competence?"

"I'm not letting you interfere in my city."

"Don't worry, Bruce, your precious Gotham is safe from me. You and your little acrobat can keep it to yourselves."

"Still not talking to Dick?," he asked in a more fatherly tone. Didn't mean Barbara appreciated the change.

"My life is none of your concern, Bruce, so can it."

And so he did.

"Who have you thought of?"

His relentlessness was endless. Barbara breathed inwardly and spoke in a low tone. "Dinah Lance."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Barbara."

"I don't recall asking for your opinion, Bruce."

A pause.

"She's on a very dark place right now. Unstable."

"All the more reason to drag her out and give her something different and new to focus on. Her life's been one hell after another lately. I think it is about damn time someone gives her a hand. Because no- frikkin-body is doing a thing for her."

"Are we still talking about Dinah?"

For a few seconds the air could be cut with a knife.

Bruce was pissing her off beyond her cartesian mind, and he knew it. But Barbara had known him for too long to let him win. He was testing her, and as annoying as it was, she knew he had his reasons. And damn good ones. He just aced at being an arrogant and irritating asshole.

"I am recruiting her, Bruce. I am giving her a few missions, see how it works. Then maybe I'll expand my horizons. I have a few other names on my list," she said defiantly.

Bruce had his back turned, facing the computers instead of the woman usually commanding them. Something on the table caught his attention and he extended his hand towards it.

Barbara saw a slight movement in the otherwise still form, but couldn't see what he was doing until she led her wheelchair to his level. He was holding a little yet significant object.

"Some morbid sense of humor you have," he said quietly.

Barbara looked at the small Batgirl doll in his hands. "It's a reminder."

"A reminder of what you cannot be anymore?"

Her hands tensed. She was sure her knuckles were white due to the pressure on the wheels' handles. But damned her if she let Bruce see it. Instead, she answered his question in a cool, not warm, voice.

"A reminder of how hard I worked to get there an succeed. The same hard work I'm doing now. I'll be the best at what I can be today, Bruce. Now leave, I got a lot of work to do."

Barbara turned and never saw the proud expression hidden behind the cowl.

*

Bruce held the doll. "Hard worker. That you were, Barbara." Slowly, he placed it back on the drawer and took the small black box in his hand. Putting on the cowl, he headed out of the Batcave.

***

He entered through the bedroom, well aware of Lois not being there. Clark took a long breath, casted a quick glance received by a smile and composed himself before he walked towards the living room, where he found Lois looking at some papers, surely notes scribbled during some kind of individual brainstorm.

"Lois?"

"Hey, hon. Can you open that window?, I'm suffocating in here."

"It's late, sweetheart."

"I know, but I fell asleep when I shouldn't have. Now I can't close my eyes." Then she saw the box he was carrying. She knew that box. It was the vinyl collection box. "Is your mom redecorating?"

"No," he quietly said.

His heart was beating really fast now.

"Then why did you bring this here?"

"I though you might want to have them close," he said.

He wondered if Lois could hear the beating from where she was standing.

"Smallville, I'm not up for ambiguities tonight."

Ok. That was a bad start. How come he was so nervous when dealing with Lois? He opted for the rather direct approach, only drawing a big meander. "I'm bringing Chris back."

"Like, now?"

"Yes."

"Clark, that's...honey, that's great, but, have you talked to Bruce? Is he--how are we going to explain? We can't play ping pong with adoptions, you know?"

"We have the perfect cover, Lo." Here goes nothing. He took a breath and braced himself for whatever was to come. He couldn't keep them behind the door forever. "Chris never believed his mother was dead. We used some contacts and placed him in a special program. Now that he...he found her, he's back," he said as fast as he could.

"Clark, that is not funny," said a very serious Lois.

"I am not trying to be funny, Lo," he softly said. He placed the box on the floor and extended his hand. "Come."

Lois took it and let him lead her towards their bedroom and opened the door. Chris was there, she smiled happy that their son was finally back and--

"Chloe?"

*****

Notes: enjoy the cliffie, and thanks for the reviews again, they feel great and are very much appreciated :)

Music notes:

Bruce's and Gordon's scene was somewhat bittersweet. Gusgus "Is Jesus your pal?" fills the bitter part of it.

Saint Etienne "How we used to live": Dinah/Ollie's morning.