Saphire122 you asked for a batgirl chapter and here you go!

WARNING: This chapter contains sensitive topics that may be difficult for some readers, please read with care.

Bruises were not uncommon in this line of work. In fact there were occasions when your body was more blue and purple than white. But the difference between the usual bruises and the bruises Batman was currently looking at was that he knew where the first kind came from. Whether it be any of his sons, himself, Batgirl and even Alfred! He knew the source of a bruise this bad. But the black and blue mark that currently covered Barbra Gordon's arm…was a mystery.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, the girl looked up at him and then down to where he was staring

"Yeh, I caught my arm on something at work" she was lying and Bruce knew this. There was no way she could have a mark that bad from simply catching it on something. The black marks were imprints of fingers.

But not wanting to interrogate the girl he left it alone.

Until a few days later when he saw her again while she was visiting Dick. She had tried to hide it with makeup but Bruce could still see the yellowing bruise on her neck and the bags that were starting to form under her eyes.

"Did you catch your neck at work this time?" he asked and saw her falter

"No, accident at gymnastics. It was my fault, not getting enough sleep and lost my balance" Bruce saw Dick frown, there were both in the same gymnastics club, but his eldest son didn't look like he was following her story.

Once she had left Bruce turned to Dick with raised eyebrows.

"What's the look for?" he asked

"She's your best friend, surely you've noticed the bruises" Dick lowered his eyes, he had noticed but he didn't want too.

"She didn't hurt herself at gym did she" it wasn't a question. Dick shook his head.

"She's got this new guy" he started looking up sharply "I'm not saying this is right, it's a suspicion"

"Your suspicions are usually right" Bruce cut in but Dick ignored him.

"She started seeing him about 8 months ago, they were good together, but his brother was in a car accident about a month ago. That's when she started showing up to school hiding bruises"

"You think he's hurting her?"

"As I say, I don't know anything" Dick looked sad, he hated seeing his friend like this but Babs had said she could handle it, and he didn't want to step on her toes.

The next night on the roof tops of Gotham Batman and Batgirl were surveying the street below.

"I heard you got yourself a new boyfriend" said Batman calmly; he felt more than saw Batgirls eyes on him.

"Nightwing told you huh" the nod was barely visible, Batgirl knew what this was about.

"I'm fine Bats, ok? Sure he gets a little rough, but he's going through a hard time and its nothing I can't handle"

"You deserve better than him, if he can't respect you" Batgirl's eyes widened…did Batman really just say that.

"I should get your dad to kick his ass" the dark knight muttered

"Please don't say anything to my dad; he's finally starting to get off my back about not coming home before midnight. If he found out, he would never let me out"

Batman sighed "Fine I won't tell him" he paused and finally looked at her, which shocked Batgirl once again "But you don't have to go through this alone"

That was when he jumped off the roof to the street below where he took down a car thief that Batgirl hadn't seen because she was distracted by the conversation. Geez could that man multitask.

A week later Batman returned from patrol alone. Nightwing was caught up in Blud haven, Red Hood was grounded for swearing in the house and Robin was studying for an exam. Batgirl simply hadn't shown up.

Bruce, unable to sleep sat at the kitchen counter, nursing a cup of coffee. He knew something was wrong, so when his mobile rang, he didn't even need to check the caller ID.

"Barbra"

OoOoOoOo

Barbra shook in her seat as Mark beat on the car windows. He had been upset about hurting her and so wanted to make it up to her. They had gone to see a movie and been having a really good night, but then instead of driving her home, he drove into the middle of the wooded area in Gotham Park.

"What are we doing here?" she had asked

"Come on Babe, were going to have a bit of fun" but what he had in mind, Babs did not think of as fun. He had pinned her down and tried to remove her clothes, she couldn't beat him up without giving away her Batgirl identity, but she could sure as hell kick him off. She had brought her knees up and pushed him at the car door before jumping forward opening the door, letting him fall out and then slamming it shut. After locking it from the inside she had pulled out her phone and paused. She didn't want her dad to know. She hadn't been lying to Bruce when she had told him he dad was finally giving her some freedom, she didn't want to worry him again.

Brushing away some tears from her eyes she had dialled a number she knew by heart.

"Barbra?"

"Bruce, please help me"

"I'm tracking your phone. I'm on my way"

OoOoOoOoOo

Batman thundered down the road to Gotham Park, pulling up behind a car that was currently parked. There was a man outside the car, beating on the windows and swearing to high heaven.

"Let me in! Don't pretend you don't want it! Let me in or I'll beat the crap out of you" Batman didn't need to hear any more. He strode forward, grabbed the man shoulder to turn him round, and then punched him straight in the face.

"What the hell?" the man looked up at the dark knight and screamed as he picked him up by his shirt front.

"If I ever see you bothering this poor woman again, I will personally make sure you know exactly when she has been going through, 10 fold. Do I make myself clear!" he growled the young man nodded, tears streaming down his face. "Now get out of here" he dropped him and Mark ran off into the dark forest.

After a few moment and car door unlocked and opened to reveal the red head with mascara tracks running down her face.

"You came" she said as tears welled up in her eyes again. And then for the third time in less than a week Batman surprised her by eloping her in a tight hug.

"I told you, you didn't have to go through this alone" Babs closed her eyes and let the tears spill over and she pressed her face into the Dark Knights chest.

"Thank you".

A/N Please review Karin xxx