"/-\\\\\\" = flashback

"~~~~~~~" = scene transition

CHAPTER 30

She couldn't decide if it was a curse or a blessing. Her vision was still splotchy from the flashing lights of the paparazzi as they swarmed for a picture of the 'lost Wayne heir'. Off in the distance, outside the gates, she could hear the vans and crews setting up for the perfect shot they would never get. Her fingers twitched at her sides for the grip of her pistol as she left the hospital. To the media, Bruces grip on her shoulders as he rushed her to the car through the congested crowd was a sign of guiding comfort for her. In reality he was forcing her arms down to prevent her from swinging on the vultures.

However, it was hard to deny that it was his pull and money that had gotten her out as soon as she had. The doctors were hardly comfortable letting her go so soon in her 'delicate condition'. Of course they'd found out! No doubt hinted in some way by Bruce. Worse still, how long could they truly hope that those HIPPA laws would hold their tongues to the tabloids? With the right money it'd be well worth loosing their job. And oh what the right publication would pay.

And all because of a little morning sickness! 'hyperemesis gravidarum' her brain supplied unhelpfully. 'dehydration, irregular heart rate due to electrolytes, minimal weight.. low fetal weight…' She looked down to her hands laid on the dresser, the bottle of pills next to the glass of water. With a roar the glass was flung across the room, shattering against the door frame.

/-\\\\\\

To his credit Bruce didn't flinch when the vase shattered by his head. Instead he only gave it a sideways glance before looking at her with a disappointed look like a parent chiding a child who was currently tantruming on the store floor.

"You always have a plan don't you! Always have to have the final say!" She screamed, turning on his with another weapon in her hand, some delicate figurine

"You need to calm down." He tried calmly.

"You think you can keep me here by bringing the public into this?! Out me and I'll have to play good little soldier again?!" She ignored the burning at the corner of her eyes This time he has to actually side step the flying projectile. When she turned to find more his feet moved quickly to catch up. Her head swam as she swung back, wrist caught in his palm, black creeping in from the corner of her eyes before receding.

"That's not why I did it." There was hitch to his voice. A crack of actual anger attempting to force its way out.

Any sane person wouldn't be one to tempt the Batman into giving into that anger. It was far too clear the things he could do without emotion feeding into his resolve, adding to his strength. But lately there's been questions to her sanity and she was far from any normal person. Her lips drew back in a snarl, teeth bared. "Then why." She growled out.

There was a rumble, a Batman level growl as he took a hold of both her shoulders. Painfully so, being sure to tilt her in such a way to to look directly into his face as he glared down at her. "Because you needed a wake up call that you weren't willing to take from me! You haven't been eating. You're sick! And you're endangering yourself and the baby! AS he went he'd even shook her, trying to get her to listen. After there was silence as they both glared into each others eyes, though she refused to recognize the burning in her eyes that blurred his image.. Eventually hos hands fell from her shoulders.

"You haven't won Bruce." She calls as he begins to head out. He pauses, turning to her again. "You're trying to remove Bloodwing by forcing 'Dani' out into the open. But now 'Dani' holds the card to 'Brucies' future. One call to the police and his world comes down. Without Brucie, who would Batman have to hide behind?" The threat was clear. The police were far from satisfied with the runaway story. What sort of problems would an heir to a billionaire have to runaway from? How do you hide? WHERE would they hide that no one would recognize you? Of course it's not like they could understand living off the grid had been something she'd been trained in for the last decade. One word, a single implication of abuse on Bruces behalf and it all comes down. Of course it would come with it's own risks. If they found the cave everything would be traced back, even to her. If she didn't have anything to loose. She'd be long gone before they could take any action against her.

"You were off the radar for over a year." He said. 'You could do it again' lingered in the air unspoken as he turned to walk out the door.

/-\\\\\\

She fell to the floor, curling into a ball against the dresser as the sobs took over her whole body.

She woke with a headache, sore throat and stuffy nose against the dresser. She contemplated just laying there for the night. Then her eyes landed on the bottle of pills on the floor. There was a flutter in her stomach, drawing her hand over her lower belly. She could feel her hips in a way she couldn't before and though it was little more than a slight bulge she could feel the tight hardness in the center. 'low weight.' With a groan she forced herself up and out the door to find something, bottle in hand.

She made her way through the manor silently, passing like a ghost along the corridors. Every heavy curtain was drawn she noticed. Certainly not Alfreds first run with the media. Passing door after door until.

"-Going on?"

She froze at Dicks voice. There was clearly tension between he and Bruce from his last visit and he hadn't stepped foot in the manor since. Quickly she pressed herself to the wall just outside one of Bruces dens, inching closer to door.

"We've treated bullet wounds in the cave!" he sounded exasperated. "What. Happened."

Of course. He'd had to of heard about her hospitalization by now. It would be plastered all over the news. The investigation into her return

"What happens here is none of your concern."

"Like hell it isn't! No more Secrets Bruce! What the hell happened to her!" There was a pause. She could feel the older man breaking under his golden child. I wasn't his place! Who was he to tell them about her body! Behind her back! "Why did you take her to a civilian hospital?" Rage boiled in her. Before she could get a clear thought she stepped out openly in the large entrance.

"Because" She barked, a spark of joy passing through her at the surprise on Dicks face. "For all his studies, obstetrics was never really on his list of specialties." She could see Bruces shoulders slump slightly at the revelation.

Dick turned to her, clearly confused. "Obstetr- But that.." His brows knit together as he pieces the words together. When all the lights finally turned on upstairs there was a flash of horror across his face before it contorted in anger as he stepped towards her. "Who!" He demanded He flinched back when she slipped into a defensive stance, left arm raised ready to fight. Her right hand came up to guard her abdomen, shifting herself so her stomach was facing just slightly too far back instead of sideways in a proper stance. she was afraid he would…

His guts twisted. She thought he would… Never. But some one had… She was… His throat was suddenly dry "How-" He swallowed around the lump in his throat. "How far along?"

She eyed him up for a few moments. "15 weeks." His face changed to surprise again as he process all the new information. But when it turned to a look of pity is when she couldn't take it With a huff she turned to leave, hearing him call after her. Spinning down the hall to leave she looked up to find Tim staring at her. His mouth was hung slightly open , eyes locked on hers. Heart pounding she adverted her eyes, walking briskly passed his stunned from.