Chapter 25

Gotham; September 29th, 01:33 EST

Standing on the roof of the building adjacent to the old recycling plant, I carefully scan the area one more time with my binoculars before I finally decide it's time to go in. We've been out here scouting the area for over two and a half hours with no sign of anyone.

I glance at my partner for the evening, her posture revealing the fact that she's not going to wait for too much longer. She's been exceptionally patient in spite of herself tonight. She's been more than anxious to get inside the plant and investigate what she hadn't been able to this afternoon.

I know she considers it a failure that she lost those two men today, but nothing could be further from the truth. She had done exceptional work by following them like she had, allowing them to lead her to this place. She has been becoming less impulsive and far more patient, which is an impressive feat of self-control for her.

"Ready?" I ask her without taking my attention from the plant below.

She releases a huff of air, her posture straightening. "I thought you'd never ask," she replies with noticeable annoyance.

I can't help but smirk in response, knowing that I'd tested her to her very limits tonight. I tap my commlink. "Robin, we're going in."

"It's about time," he exclaims with his own sense of exasperation. "There's been nothing for hours."

I shake my head, knowing I've got two impatient partners on my hands. "We're going in on the west side. Contact me if you spot anything."

"Got it. Robin out."

"Ready, Nemesis?" I ask her.

"Nemesis?" she repeats, clearly surprised.

"If you're going to be out here with me, you need a codename," I remind her.

A smirk plays on her lips as she puts her hands on her hips, her head tilted in amusement. "I thought you said I didn't need a codename because this was never going to happen again?"

"This is just for tonight," I maintain, averting my gaze and schooling my features as I fire my grappling gun.

I hear her murmur something under her breath, but I don't catch it as I leap through the air to my destination. My cape whips in the wind that is beginning to pick up. There's a storm starting to roll in. Scattered raindrops begin to pelt my face, but I ignore it. I've done patrol in weather conditions far worse than this.

Landing lightly on the roof on the balls of my feet, Diana follows suit, landing right beside me with her typical agility and grace. Even dressed in black from head to toe, it's hard to disguise what comes so naturally to her.

Leaning over, I find an open window below us. I rappel down the side and through the window, Diana close on my heels as I begin to survey our surroundings. There's nothing here that appears to be connected in any way to the production of Ash.

"Stay close," I whisper to her as I make my way through the doorway.

We work our way through the offices and the endless trash that has been left behind by vagrants and teens looking for trouble. Coming to the end of the hall, I open the door, instantly bracing myself in the doorway, Diana running into me from behind.

"What is it?" she asks.

"The stairs are gone."

"Want me to carry us down?"

"No…no powers," I remind her despite how tempting the suggestion is at that particular moment. It would certainly speed things up, but I can't risk anyone seeing her flying us through the recycling plant and blowing her cover. "We go down my way."

"Whatever you say, boss," she murmurs.

I fire my grappling gun at the ceiling, making sure there's a solid hold before rappelling down to the first floor. Diana follows behind me in the same manor and I'm impressed once more with her versatility in any situation that presents itself.

Rain begins to pelt against the old building as we make our way through the plant, lightning streaks visible in the high windows. Diana begins to search to the right while I move to the left, working in perfect sync. This place is like a maze of abandoned equipment and crates, making me wonder just how much they actually took with them when they built the new recycling plant on the other side of the city.

This was supposed to have been renovated and turned into a large shopping center for local business owners, but that has yet to happen, mostly due to the fact that the city council can't stop arguing. Half the council wants to make it a shopping center while the other half wants to tear it down and turn it into a low-income apartment building. I think when this is over with I'm going to just step in and buy it.

I weave through the mass of clutter, wondering how Diana is faring so far on her own. I avoid checking in with her, not wanting to tip anyone off that we're here. So far, I'm afraid we're coming up empty on this hunt for whoever is manufacturing Ash, but I'm not about to give up yet.

The two men Diana followed were here this afternoon for a reason. I have no doubt that if they're not here, they're close by. I will spend every night for the next week searching every building in the area to get to the bottom of this if I have to.

I just wish that I knew who the two men were talking to in that black car. I'm more than relieved that Diana hadn't put herself in any further danger by trying to get a look at him or a picture. I'm worried enough about her as it is with her following these unknown men.

I'll never be able to thank her enough if she has managed to bust this case wide-open with this discovery. The death toll is still rising no thanks to Ash. The sooner we're able to get this shut down, the better off Gotham will be.

Hearing a scurrying noise, I freeze in my tracks and listen carefully. As I realize it's too small to be a person, I catch sight of a rat running out from behind some boxes before disappearing around a piece of equipment. "Nemesis to Batman."

Her whispered hail fills my ear and I tap my commlink. "What have you got?"

"I found something."

"On my way."

I quickly make my way in the direction she had gone, eventually finding her in some offices off to the side. She's bent over a desk looking through some papers. There's a partially set up lab in here, test tubes and burners on a far table as well as various containers for transporting.

Diana was right. They had been hiding out in here. The part that makes my blood turn to ice water in my veins, however, is the fact that the lab has very hastily and obviously been cleared out recently. Someone had spotted Diana and moved the operation before they could be found.

She glances up from the papers in her hands to look at me, immediately noticing me staring wordlessly at her. "What?" she asks with a frown.

"Nothing," I say with a definitive shake of my head. We can't talk about it here. It's too dangerous. I can't risk a bug being left behind with the abandoned lab equipment. "Later."

She frowns at me, clearly wanting to know what's going on, but she thankfully lets it go for the moment. "Look at this," she says instead.

I take the papers in her hand and begin looking through them, my stomach in knots with what she's discovered. I curse under my breath as the ramifications of everything slams into me like hitting a brick wall at high speed.

"What is all of this?" she asks. She's unable to hide the concern in her voice as she comes to stand right beside me, looking at the papers that she had just given me.

"It's our worst nightmare coming to life," I grind out with mounting fury. "It looks like they're working on a way to synthesize Ash into an injectable form instead of just being able to snort it."

Turning away from me, Diana slams her fist into a nearby desk, putting a massive hole through the top of it with her outburst of anger. I can hardly blame her for being upset and losing her temper. I'm beyond furious as well.

"We need to gather as much evidence as we possibly can. With any luck, they left behind some fingerprints for us to find."

"Do you really think we can be that lucky?" she asks me, trying to regain control of her anger once more as she returns to searching the room.

"You'd be surprised the mistakes criminals make, especially when they're in a hurry," I inform her.

"These guys seem to be above making mistakes," she comments as she sorts through more papers. "So far, they've proven to be quite intelligent and next to impossible to track down."

"Don't worry; we'll get them," I tell her as I begin to dust for fingerprints. "It's only a matter of time before they slip up."

"I don't know how you can be so patient night after night like this," she thoughtfully comments. "I just lost my temper already tonight. I can't imagine dealing with this frustration every single night."

"It's not easy," I confess as I turn my attention to the countless containers.

Some of the glass containers have been shattered, pieces of broken glass crunching beneath my boots. Other glass jars and tubes are lying on their sides, knocked over in their hurry to get as much of their supplies out of here as possible before being caught.

"They knew someone was coming," Diana softly states as her shoulders slump, frustration lacing her voice.

I know she's beating herself up for being spotted, especially when she'd tried so hard to be discreet. I'm more concerned about her safety than anything else at this point. I'm already thinking of ways to increase security at Wayne Enterprises tomorrow as well as at the manor just in case.

"Not necessarily," I tell her, trying to ease the worry that no doubt fills her mind as well as my own right now. "There could be any number of reasons why they needed to move their operation."

"Robin to Batman."

"What have you got, Robin?"

"I've got four guys entering the plant from the back," he informs me. "You guys needs to get out of there or prepare for a fight."

"We'll take care of them," I reply. "Just keep watch in case more show up."

"Got it. Robin out."

"We've got incoming," I notify her, the corner of my lips twitching slightly. "Ready for a fight?"

Her expression brightens with the news, a mischievous expression veiling her face. "You definitely know how to sweet talk a girl," she teases. "You're more fun on patrol than I had anticipated."

All I can do is shake my head in amazement as she follows me to the doorway. Only Diana would consider being in a fight together as something to look forward to. On the surface, we appear to be polar opposites, as different as night and day, but, deep down, we're more alike than anyone would ever begin to imagine.

I'm hoping the two guys Diana saw earlier today are among the four that are here. I'm anxious to get my hands on them and make sure they didn't notice her this afternoon. I'm hoping it's just a coincidence that the lab had been moved, but my gut is telling me otherwise.

I don't have time to dwell on it any longer as the sound of approaching footsteps lets us know they're close. "Remember—" I begin.

"No powers," she softly hisses, interrupting me and leveling me with a deadly glare. "You tell me that one more time and I swear by Hera—"

She doesn't get a chance to finish her threat as the four men come around the corner with guns already drawn. I feel a flicker of pride as she instantly shifts back further into the shadows, allowing the darkness to conceal her presence instead of going headlong at them with guns blazing like my impetuous Amazon is prone to do.

I stay hidden just inside the doorway of the offices, waiting to see what they're up to. If they were here to try to catch Diana snooping around, they would be a lot quieter than what they are. It's clear that they're here for an entirely different reason.

"Let's make this quick."

"Hey, it was your idea to sneak in here and steal some Ash."

"Yah, well, now I'm kinda thinking maybe it isn't such a good idea."

"Why?"

"Not sure we should be double-crossing the boss. He's gotta nasty temper."

"Nah, it'll be good. He'll never find out about it."

"If you're sure…"

"I'm sure…it'll be fine. Let's just be quick about it."

"Are you sure it's here?"

"Manny said they had set up shop here last month."

"Well, it's looking pretty empty if you ask me."

"Yah, this place is giving me the creeps."

"Come on, you wuss."

"I think Manny said they had set up the lab gave in these corner offices."

"Wait…did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"You're imagining things."

"No, I'm not. I swear I heard somethin'."

"Yah, it's your mommy calling for her wussy son to come home."

"Stop it! I'm serious. I heard something."

Now that I have the answer as to why they are here, it's time to wrap this up. I still have patrol to do and we have plenty of evidence gathered so far that it'll take me a couple of days at least to analyze it all. I step out from the shadows, filling the doorway like a wraith come to life, allowing my imposing frame to have its desired effect as I wait for them to notice me.

It works just as I predicted.

"Holy sh—"

"What the?"

"Batman!"

"Let's get out of here!"

"Leaving the party so soon?" Nemesis asks, stepping out of the shadows.

All four men freeze at the sight of her, looking her up and down in shock. They'd obviously never seen anything like her in Gotham before and likely never would again. One of them abruptly recovers, pointing his gun directly at her.

"Is that the proper way to welcome me to your city?" she sweetly asks and I internally groan, knowing they're in for a pummeling that will likely land them in the hospital.

She unexpectedly pulls a steel pipe out from behind her back and, with a flick of her wrist; she knocks the gun out of the guy's hand. He howls in pain, shaking his hand in a futile effort to restore feeling into the now broken appendage.

His other friends seem to recover at that moment, taking aim with their weapons as well. That's my cue to leap into action, a well-placed batarang nailing the second offender square in the chest. He stumbles back several steps, dropping his gun in shock.

I don't allow him a chance to recover as I pounce on him, delivering a fist to his jaw and dropping him like a bag of cement. I turn on my heel, lifting my forearm to block a swing by a third man, lifting my boot up to kick him hard in the guy. He falls backward, landing on the ground.

He's the biggest of the four and will be more than likely harder to take down, but I've dealt with worse by far. I cast a quick glance at my partner, noticing how she's pulling her punches to keep from breaking the poor guy's face. She's taking a few blows, but they're not affecting her so I turn my attention back to the behemoth before me.

He staggers to his feet, a snarl on his lips. He puts his hands on his head, cracking his neck with a sickening snap of ligaments over joint spaces before deciding to charge at me like an enraged bull on steroids. I get into a fighting stance, a small smirk playing on my lips as I taunt him with my hands to come and get me.

He snorts his fury, his hands clenched into fists as he lunges at me, swinging his thick arm at me. I wait until the last possible second before dodging out of his way. His momentum takes him crashing straight into a steel rack, toppling the whole structure down on top of him.

Turning, I'm met with a solid punch to my jaw by the guy I had taken out first. He'd recovered quicker than I had anticipated, attacking with a fierce vengeance to save his friend. I open my mouth, testing my jaw and detecting the metallic tang of blood on my tongue.

He stares at me with anger blazing in his eyes and a hint of fear that I'm sure, if he'd been in his normal state of mind instead of the adrenaline rush he was currently in, would have told him to run for his life. "You don't want this," I warn him.

He admirably, or stupidly depending on how you view it, stands his ground, both fists raised in preparation for another attack. I stalk towards him, delivering a punishing blow that drops him for good this time. He won't be getting up any time soon this time.

I turn to watch Diana do a back flip in an effort to avoid a strike, coming up with a high-heeled boot to the man's chest. He groans as he stumbles back, holding his chest with one hand. She quickly follows up with a serious of punches that finishes him off.

"Took you long enough," I taunt her.

She flashes me a beautiful smile that seems to light up the dilapidated old plant as she tucks a stray curl behind her ear. "I was toying with him," she replies with a shrug of a shoulder. "I could've finished him off sooner, but I was having too much fun."

I shake my head in amusement as I turn to gather our evidence we'd collected. "Let's go, Nemesis. We've got work to do."

PRESENT DAY

Gotham General; October 9th; 19:35 EST

All I can think about as I sit by her bed with her hand securely in mine is how I failed her. I should've forced her to leave Gotham before things had gotten this far, should have gotten to her before she'd been so badly beaten and tortured for information I still have no clue about.

Every single "what-if" and "should have" takes a stabbing blow at my guilt, bringing me that much closer to fleeing in order to keep her from being hurt anymore because of me. Then, Alfred's words filter through my mind in between the sickening culpability and self-loathing, reminding me that she needs me just as much as I desperately need her.

It's like we're connected to one another in a way that I don't quite understand, but I know it's there. I feel it with every fiber of my being, sharing something with her that I've never felt with another woman. We are bonded through so many events, so many threads of our lives intertwined and woven together.

Still, I can't help thinking that she'd be better off with Clark here with her instead of me.

Staring at her, I reach out to adjust the covers over her before gently tracing the curve of her badly bruised face with the tips of my fingers, lightly stroking her high cheekbone filled with so much regal pride and nobility. She's the most exquisite creature I've ever met, both inside and out, and I wonder for the millionth time why she would even bother to give me the time of day let alone call me her friend.

And yet the title of friend is not what I want most from her. I want far more, avariciously hunger for things that I should be ashamed of desiring or dreaming about, but I can't help myself when it comes to her. She has effectively pierced my armor that I'd once foolishly believed to be impenetrable, shredded my every defense and has become my Achilles heel…my own personal form of kryptonite.

Before meeting her, I would have arrogantly said that I had no weaknesses, dismissed any foolish notion that I could ever have one. I am Batman, honed and trained and hammered like steel into the epitome of skill and ultimate control.

I worked for years to be the best that I could be—physically, emotionally, mentally. It was all in an effort to save my city and keep a promise made to a headstone, but, in the blink of an eye, this raven-haired angel descended from the heavens and managed to obliterate it all with something as simple as a smile, a compassionate hand on my shoulder, the melodious chorus of her laughter, the courage and selflessness with which she fights.

She quickly became my own banner of hope, my faith when I had none. Seeing her here like this, my faith is shaken to the very core of my being and I don't know how to get it back.

"Bruce…Bruce…"

I sit forward in my chair, my heart suddenly racing with the weak rasp of her voice and the panic that laces it, the gentle fluttering of her eyelids. "I'm right here, Diana," I gently reassure her.

Her eyes fall closed as she attempts to draw a deep breath and releases it slowly. I watch as a grimace flits across her face, causing her to shift her position in bed. "What is it?" I ask, concerned. "Do you need more pain medicine?"

"No," she insists, her hand coming to rest against her side and her fractured ribs.

I stand up to go get her nurse, but she grabs my arm with a swiftness and sudden strength that startles me. "Please, don't leave. I don't want to be alone."

I turn to gaze into her eyes filled with fear as I take her hand in mine once again. "I'm not going anywhere, Princess," I promise her.

She turns slightly to face me, wincing and gasping with the move. She closes her eyes as she tries to catch her breath. It's hard to look at her, seeing her so beaten and knowing that I wasn't able to do a thing to keep it from happening. Helpless doesn't even begin to describe what I feel right now.

"Do you need anything?" It's the only thing I can think to ask at the moment as I move to sit on the edge of her bed, the real questions I need answers to lodging in my throat.

"No, I'm okay," she tells me and I know she's lying for my benefit. She's far from all right, might never be all right ever again after what she's been forced to endure.

"Do you have any idea who is behind this?" I tentatively ask, hating the fact I'm bringing it up so soon after getting her back, but I need to know who did this to her. I won't rest until I've gotten my hands on him and unleashed my vengeance for what he has done to her.

Tears instantly well in her eyes as she averts her gaze, her bottom lip trembling. She tucks her hair behind her ear as she is forced to think back on everything that happened to her this past week. "No…I'm sorry," she confesses, steeling herself and putting up a fearless front for my benefit. "I was blindfolded part of the time. Someone…he…came to see me some times, but I never saw him or heard him. I only smelled him, felt him when he…he…touched me and…"

I reach out to cup her face as her voice trails off, not wanting her to go on for both of our sakes. Tears begin to silently roll down her cheeks as a strangled sob fills the air and I want to take her pain away more than I want my next breath, but feeling powerless to do anything to make it better for her. I don't want to push her any more than I already have. It's too soon, emotions too raw for both of us.

"We'll get through this together," I swear to her.

"I know," she murmurs, giving me a faint smile. "I'll be fine…I promise."

"Why don't I get something for you to eat?" I offer her. "You haven't eaten in days. You must be absolutely starved."

"Do you have a cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake in your pocket?" she hoarsely teases in an attempt to lighten the mood, though her blue eyes are dull and listless.

"No, but I'm sure I can get it for you," I tell her with a lop-sided smile.

Her hand comes to rest against mine on her face. She pulls it away and laces her fingers with mine. "Thank you," she whispers. "I knew you'd come. I never gave up hope that you'd find me."

I slowly shake my head as my chin falls to my chest with the weight of failure, fighting back the blasted tears that are determined to fall, but I'm more than resolved not to allow them. She needs my strength, not my guilt-ridden tears at that moment.

"I'm so sorry, Diana," I manage to utter, my voice barely above a whisper as I lift my head to meet her gaze. "You should have just revealed who you really are to them when they first came for you."

It's her turn to shake her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I have a secret identity to maintain," she tells me. "Besides, I'd never risk them finding out about you. I would never betray your trust, Bruce. I'd guard it with my life."

A sharp, strangled gasp escapes my throat as I squeeze my eyes closed for a moment to keep the hot tears building in my throat from rising to the surface. "I would've given every bit of it up just to keep you from being hurt."

She releases my hand to touch my face, her fingers lingering against my jaw like flames of fire licking at my skin. "And I'd go through it all over again just to protect you and your secret."

"Diana…" I begin, ready to argue with her, but she interrupts me before I can respond.

"Bruce, there are some things worth fighting for no matter the cost. All of this…you… are most definitely one of them," she insists with a fierce belief that I know is bone-deep. It's a part of her and I know that nothing or no one can ever eradicate that belief in her, not even this.

I swiftly grab her fingers from my face, bringing them to my lips to press a kiss to the tips. Everything I've wanted to tell her for the past several months dances on my tongue, begging to be expressed, but now is not the time. It'll have to wait until she's healed and better able to deal with it all emotionally.

The door opens and I turn to see Leslie poking her head inside, a smile on her face. "I thought I heard voices in here," she says as she approaches. "I'm so glad to see you awake, Diana. You had us all very worried, but not as much as this young man. He's been an absolute wreck."

I avert my eyes in mild embarrassment as I release my hold on her hand and stand to my feet. "I'm going to get you something to eat while Leslie checks you over," I tell her. "I'll be right back, Princess."

Panic momentarily flashes through her blue eyes, but she does her best to rein it in. "Oh...okay," she softly utters, her breathing becoming erratic. "Please…just hurry, Bruce."

"I won't be gone long," I promise her, leaning over and kissing her on the forehead as I gently stroke her hair.

She nods her head with an obvious reluctance and panic in her eyes as Leslie moves to check her vitals and dressings. I share her reluctance as I head to the door, turning back to look at her one more time and smiling in reassurance before leaving the room. I find Alfred sitting in the small waiting room across the hall from her room with Dick. Both look up expectantly, silent questions filling the air.

"She's awake," I confirm.

"Thank heavens," Alfred softly says with obvious relief.

"Don't worry about anything else, Bruce," Dick tells me. "Tim and I have everything covered."

"Thanks," I reply with a weary sigh as my scrub my face with my hands, stiffness consuming every muscle as I gather my emotions that are teeming so close to the surface at that moment. "I'm going to get her something to eat."

"I can go get it, Bruce," Dick offers. "You stay here with her."

Before I can answer him, I glance down the hallway to find Declan MacCaffrey talking with the two policemen standing guard. I begin to make my way down the hall, waving to Declan. "It's okay," I call to the policemen. "He's a friend of mine."

The policemen allow him to venture towards me, a relieved expression filling his face. "Bruce," he mutters, his brow furrowed with concern. "I came just as soon as I heard that she'd been found."

"Thank you, Declan," I reply, shaking his hand as we return to Alfred and Dick. "I really appreciate you coming down to check on her."

"I'm just glad she was found alive," he says with obvious relief in his voice, though his eyes are still filled with worry. "Do you know yet who could have done this to her?"

"No, not yet," I answer with a shake of my head, doing my best to hide the fury that still sears through my veins. "She hasn't been able to tell us much so far. Commissioner Gordon is coming back to question her later once she's had a chance to recover a little more."

"Master Bruce, we'll leave you to talk with Mister MacCaffrey," Alfred interjects. "Master Richard and I will go get something for you and Miss Diana to eat."

"Thank you, Alfred," I reply with a grateful nod.

I turn my attention back to Declan, all the warring emotions churning inside of me adding to the exhaustion that continues to weigh me down. I rub my forehead in an effort to alleviate the headache that refuses to subside, trying to make sense of everything, but my brain doesn't want to cooperate right now.

A hand on my shoulder draws me back to the moment, to the hallway outside of Diana's hospital room. "It'll be all right, mucker," Declan calmly reassures me. "Diana is a tough beor. She will get through this."

I draw a shuddering breath as I nod my head in acknowledgment. We move to the chairs that Alfred and Dick had just vacated. "I just can't believe this happened to her. It just all seems so surreal, something that happens in other homes…not mine and definitely not to my friend."

"I know," he agrees, sitting forward with his elbows resting on his knees in a mirror image of myself. "Was she able to tell you anything…anything at all?"

"Some things," I admit, thinking back on what Diana had said.

"What did she say?"

Leslie comes out of Diana's room at that moment. "Bruce, you're still here," she notices.

"Alfred and Dick went to get some food for us," I reply.

"Well, she's all yours now," she informs me.

I immediately stand to my feet. "Is she okay?"

"She's doing better than I had anticipated," she reveals. "She should be able to go home in a few days. She's already chomping at the bit to get out of here."

"I'm not surprised," I reply with a smirk, more than relieved with the good news. It's definitely a bright spark of hope in the midst of the chaos that has surrounded her these last few days.

"I'll be back to check on her in the morning, but call me if you need anything in the meantime."

"I will," I assure her.

"May I see her?" Declan asks. "I'd like to say hello if you don't mind."

"Perhaps in a few days," Leslie answers. "I don't want to wear her out with lots of visitors. She's been through a very traumatic event and she's pretty beaten up right now. She really needs to rest."

"I promise I won't stay long," Declan swears.

"Maybe in a couple of days," Leslie repeats more firmly. "She'll hopefully be up for visitors then."

I turn towards Declan, noticing something pass through his eyes, but I'm not quite certain what it is. "Thank you for coming, Declan," I tell him. "It really means a lot. I'll be sure to tell Diana that you stopped by."

"Anything for you, friend," he replies, shaking my hand with a smile. "Call me if you need anything at all."

I shake his hand with a nod. "I will."

"I'll come by the manor to see her in a couple of days then," he tells me. "Please, give her my best."

"Thanks," I say as I watch him walk down the hall as Jason Trask comes around the corner.

I immediately stiffen at the sight of him, my legs beginning to move of their own accord towards him with a determination to see him leave as quickly as he had appeared. There is no way I'm going to let him see Diana. He talks to the men who are standing guard, the police officers allowing him to come down the hallway.

Trask look like he's just crawled out of a gutter. His hair and suit are disheveled, dark shadows beneath his eyes. "Jason," I evenly greet him, folding my arms against my chest. There is no way he's getting past me to her.

"I want to see Diana," he breathlessly demands, reeking of alcohol again.

"No," I state. "You're drunk, Jason. You need to leave…now."

"You are not her boss, Bruce," Jason hisses, poking me in the chest which only further fuels my anger and dislike of this man.

"Actually, I am," I point out with a sneer. "She's in no condition to have any visitors right now so leave before I have you physically taken out of here."

Trask glares darkly at me before trying to push past me, his shoulder crashing into me. I grab his arm and slam him against the wall before he can draw his next breath. "Stay away from her," I warn him with a deadly tone before I glance at the policemen down the hall. "I believe Mister Trask needs to be escorted home."

They come quickly, each taking him by an arm. "Come with us, Mister Trask," one police officer informs him. "I believe you need to go home and dry out."

I watch as they escort him away, Trask cursing under his breath and struggling to break free from their hold on him. "You won't win, Wayne!" he yells over his shoulder as he's dragged around the corner against his will. "She's mine!"

I release a relieved breath, thankful that Trask is gone now. I have a bad feeling that he'll be back again once he sobers up and I'll be more than ready for him. He's not getting near Diana again. Turning, I head back to her room, anxious to see her again. Hopefully, I'll get to bring her home with me soon.

A/N: Hmmm...lots going on here still. Wonder who the real bad guy here is! We're about to find out in the next update.

So sad to say there are only two more updates after this. It has truly been my favorite fic that I've written so far and I hope you've enjoyed it too. I'm already starting to plot out the sequel so this isn't over yet! :)