A/N: 09.24.2021

"So Far Away" is still a bit of a ways out and one of the main reasons for that is "Chronicles Part 2" is essential with how we get there. I'll spoil this much: "So Far Away" will take place after a time jump. I won't say how much. Yet. For now, enjoy!

SYNOPSIS: Bruce decides to give Max more access to the team, enabling them to monitor as he begins to get to know Helena more, and Bruce "employs" Sally as a personal doctor, giving her more access as well. Post-"Iridescent."

Strongest Together

Considering the past few weeks, the team decided to have a day to just sit around and relax. It was a Saturday afternoon and Bruce, Basem, Sally, and Hayate met at Terry and Max's. While Michelle had hung out with the group before, though she still was unaware of Bruce's connection to the Batman side of things nor had she met him yet, she opted to stay at Hayate's loft. Michelle wanted to give them time to unwind after what they had been through, and Michelle realized being at home and doing nothing was actually a lot of fun.

At Terry and Max's, as everyone sat around talking, Bruce studied the group. He looked at Max and Sally, coming to a decision about a course of action he had made some time ago.

Bruce sat his cup of tea down. "If I can have a minute, everyone, I'd like to talk about something."

"Oh, c'mon, Bruce!" Basem shouted, immediately. "We didn't do anything! And if we did, it was Michelle's fault!"

"I beg your pardon!" Hayate replied.

Basem looked at Hayate, "Oh. Right. You and her are together. I can't believe I forgot. It took all of five minutes."

"It took that long?" Terry asked, sarcastically.

"Anyway," Bruce said, "I've come to some decisions that we need to discuss."

"And those would be?" Terry asked.

"Max."

Max leaned her head, slightly, to the side.

"What would you say to me allowing you to help monitor, I can't stress the word 'monitor' enough, Terry and the others?"

Max stared at Bruce, blankly, for a few seconds. Then a huge, toothy, near-cartoonish smile quickly appeared on her face.

"You want her to what?!" Terry asked, suddenly.

"You heard me," Bruce answered.

"10 slaggin' years you've stood your ground on her not doing that!"

"And for ten years, you both ignored me."

"I… have… no comeback."

"I thought not," Bruce replied.

"He's not the only one shocked, Bruce," Basem admitted. "What brought this on?"

"Well, with Helena in my life, our lives… the addition of Ember, the closeness of this group already… and the endless amount of speeches, lectures, and sermons I've heard about trusting people more…"

"When was Clark in town?" Terry asked.

"Yesterday," Bruce answered. "He had a few minutes and spent them all on me."

"You're so lucky," Basem snickered.

"With that… I determined he was probably right."

"You know he probably just heard you," Terry smiled.

"I hope he heard the part of him preaching sermons, too," Bruce added. "It wasn't meant to be a compliment."

"I'm not sure he cares after you said he was right."

"I said 'probably right'."

"That'd be close enough for me, it's close enough for him," Terry countered.

"But that's not at all," Bruce declared.

"It's not?" Basem asked.

Bruce looked at Sally. "Sally."

"I will gladly turn on anyone in this room for you, Bruce," Sally said, quickly.

"Wow!" Terry said, offendedly.

"So loyal!" Max shouted, sarcastically.

"Sally!" Basem chided.

"What?!" Sally said, nervously. "I panicked!"

Bruce smiled. "Once again proving you're one of the smartest ones here."

Sally smiled, proudly.

"But, actually, I also wanted to 'hire' you as a personal physician."

Everyone looked at each other, curiously, before looking back at Bruce.

Terry narrowed his eyes, "You've already got one of-ohhhhhh! I get it!"

"I'm afraid I do not grasp the meaning behind this decision," Hayate admitted.

Terry blinked. "Wow! I got it before you? Whoa. Just… let me enjoy this feeling. It'll never happen again."

Hayate chuckled.

"Terry," Max said, drolly.

"One more sec, Max," Terry said. He inhaled and exhaled, "Ooookay! I'm good. Anyway… Bruce wants to 'hire', note the air quotes, Sally as a personal doctor to explain anytime she has to show up at the Manor at weird hours. Or, ya know… at all."

"Wow!" Basem said. "You got that before us. We're slipping."

"In his defense, he was firing on all cylinders during the Moirai case," Max reminded.

"'Firing on all cylinders' is why we're both pregnant again," Sally reminded, causing her and Max to laugh.

Bruce shook his head.

"But, seriously, Bruce," Max said, "I'm not taking this lightly. And I won't let you down."

"Same here," Sally nodded. "We're both in. And we'll always do our best."

"I know," Bruce replied. "That was never a concern. And you won't have to leave your hospital job, Sally. Like Terry said, this is more of a cover than anything."

"Got you. But I'll still check up on you anyway."

"Fair enough. And I'll still pay you."

"Did you not forget I'm kinda rich because I married up?" Sally joked.

Basem rolled his eyes and dropped his head.

Bruce smiled. "All the same. It'll be more for official records than anything."

"Got you," Sally nodded.

"I'm guessing, besides Superman's 'preaching'," Basem noted, "the deal with the Moirai incident was one more reason for all of this."

"Yes. One reason I kept my mind about me… was all of you." Bruce stared at Max and Sally, "Both of you serve as far more than just emotional support for this group, but, in this case… that was what I, personally, needed the most. And you both gave me that."

"Max gave you that," Sally corrected. "Seriously, Bruce, I didn't do anything."

"Remember when you stayed in the Manor for a while? While we were battling the Graves? I'll never forget the kindness and understanding you showed me, Sally. You're the same person you've been since you moved back to Gotham to reconnect with Max. You're a wonderful person and this… is a level of trust that you earned a very long time ago."

Sally just stared at Bruce as tears streamed down her cheeks. She swallowed the lump in her throat, "So. Uh. This is, like, the eightieth time you've brought me to happy tears, and I never saw that coming when I first met you!"

"No one ever does," Bruce smiled.

Sally laughed as she wiped her eyes, "Well! Let me say again, I'm in!"

"And you know I am!" Max agreed.

Bruce nodded. "Wonderful!"

"Wow," Basem folded his arms. "Will wonders ever cease?"

"I sincerely hope not," Hayate replied.

"Bruce Wayne's personal doctor," Sally mused. "Wow. Yet another life goal I didn't know I wanted to achieve."

"He's full of those," Terry noted.

"But I do have one question."

"Of course," Bruce nodded.

"Me being your doctor…" Sally began, "hell, just being a doctor period, explains all my weird hours."

"Hence why your sleep schedule is as bad as mine," Basem noted.

"Don't remind me. Mom is still wanting to move to Gotham. More now that we've got another on the way."

"So do my parents…" Basem exhaled, ruefully.

"But Max is always busy with the company and Grace and she's gonna be busier with another kid on the way," Sally pointed out. "We both are, but it's easier for me to explain things away."

"Go ahead and include Terry in the 'kids' category," Max smirked, causing Terry to grunt.

"I have an idea about that," Bruce replied.

"You have something else in the works?" Hayate asked.

"Yes. One more… possible plan. But I'll let you know when I know for sure if it's a direction I wish to pursue."

Terry stared at Bruce, curiously. "Helena?"

"No," Bruce said, immediately. "I won't ask her to be in this life. If she wishes to join… I'll do everything I can to talk her out of it."

"And when that ultimately and inevitably fails?" Basem asked.

Bruce exhaled, ruefully. "We'll see."

"Fair, but let's get back on subject…" Max smiled, mischievously and victoriously, at Bruce. "I finally wore you down!"

"You're not getting a suit."

"Doesn't matter! I still won!"

"After ten years," Bruce grinned.

"HA!" Max shouted. "You admit it! I am victorious! You finally fell for my ten-year plan!"

Basem studied Max, suspiciously, then looked at Terry, "She didn't have a ten-year plan for this…" he looked at Max. "…right?"

"I mean, she couldn't!" Sally declared. "Could she?"

Terry stared at Max, nervously. "I'm not even entirely sure she didn't have a… whatever-year plan for us getting married."

Max sneered, "You'll never know now!"

Terry smacked his forehead.

Max looked at Bruce, "I'm guessing you don't want me in the Cave all the time."

"I can have a secondary system set up, discreetly," Bruce explained. "The Cave's system is separate from the standard internet and all known networks."

"Yeah, I already know. Tried breaking in a few times."

"I know."

"Jeez, Max!" Sally cried out. "How did he not ship you off to Siberia?!"

"Because, even if Bruce wouldn't admit it, he knows I'm too sexy to get rid of," Max smirked.

Bruce and Terry rolled their eyes while Max and Basem laughed.

"If you change your mind, I get it," Terry said to Bruce.

"No, it's my decision," Bruce replied. "It's the sword I'll fall on."

Max laughed, "Oh, relax! I won't let you down, Bruce."

"I know."

"So, I really am curious," Sally said. "What is your other plan?"

"I'll tell you when I know for sure."