"I need information now. What do we know about this guy?" Uncle Nate questioned. I had allowed myself into his office without permission a few minutes ago. When he saw me, he pointed at me and then at the door, signaling me to get out of the room. I puffed my cheek and shook my head left and right, rebelling his request.

I was cleaning after baking at home when I saw headline news on TV that they were under attack by an overly durable man so I quickly dashed to the GCPD in worry. Once I arrived while gasping for oxygen, Uncle Nate and Bullock were still not there so I had made myself comfortable in Uncle Nate's office, nesting on one of the comfortable chairs, waiting for them to arrive. And now here I am, with Uncle Nate, Jim and… Bruce. I wondered what the boy's role in this case.

"Just what you saw. Call himself Azrael. Wants to kill me," Jim responded. I gawked at no one once I heard the name. What a very frightening name; Azrael. "We know Hugo Strange is responsible."

Then, I whipped my head towards Jim instantly. I bit my tongue to prevent blurting out the 'I told you so' speech. Last time I clearly told him that Professor Strange is suspicious when he released Oswald.

"Told you so, did he?" Uncle Nate sarcastically said.

"Who else could it be?" Jim didn't get down easily. I was curious to why Jim took an interest in the chief of Arkham. Something must have happened in the past few days.

"I have no idea. I have to find out the facts," Uncle Nate taunted. "Fun part about being a police detective, instead of a loose cannon vigilante."

This vigilante helped you catch baddies faster than you can, I gossiped in my mind. After Jim was confirmed not guilty of killing Officer Pinkney, he is free but he didn't return to work as a detective. Instead he 'helped' the GCPD at the sidelines, though with the displeasure of my dear uncle of course.

"Excuse me, Captain," Bruce began. "I find your flippant attitude to be inappropriate."

I failed to cover a snort at Bruce's forwardness.

"I find you to be kind of a pain in the ass," the captain of GCPD retorted. I slapped my only hand to my mouth as another snort threatened to come out, but I managed to suppress it. "And you too." He pointed at me, pinning me down with his glare. Then he turned to Jim and said, "What's he even doing here?"

"I'm a concerned citizen. I want to know what you're doing about all of this," Bruce answered for Jim. I raised my brow in amusement. Bruce sounded so mature. Uncle Nate became speechless and he stuttered. A kid made him stutter, I snickered in my mind. He regained his self-control and answered Bruce's question, not forgetting to be cynical to Jim. His plan was to assemble the Strike Force, call in all off-duty officers, and search everywhere for the criminal.

"Okay?" he mouthed to Bruce, flashing a full fake smile. "That's what we're gonna do. What your're gonna do is go home and stop inserting yourself into police business." He was glaring at me as well as he said that. Bruce wanted to argue but Uncle Nate cut him off. "That's the final word." Then he left his office.

"Can someone fill me in? Why… Azrael wants to kill you and how is he connected with Professor Strange? What are you guys up to? Can I join in? Oh, and hi Bruce. Long time no see," I said, giving him a quick wave.

"Barnes is right," Jim emphasized, flashing me a dirty look. Then he shifted his gaze to Bruce. "It's time you went home. Leave the rest of this to the police. And to me."

"This is not just police business. This is my business too," Bruce fought back.

"I can't make the moves I need to make if I'm worrying about you. You need to be at home, where Alfred can look after you," he responded, pulling Bruce with him. I bet Bruce did not feel pleased at what Jim said since it made him sounded like a little boy. I mean, I had dealt with Ivy and Selina sometimes and what they love is freedom, not getting babysits.

I slumped on the chair dejectedly because they ignored me. Guess I'll have to put out my other card.

As usual Bullock told me everything. If Jim and Uncle Nate hide police cases, Bullock is the one I go to for information. I guessed he likes me being his temporary partner. We were chatting in his car. He was supposed to search for Azrael but he is having a quick break so he's talking with me now.

"Professor Strange is the one responsible for the death of Bruce's parents?" I repeated what Bullock had told me. I also just know that Bruce had been chasing after his parents' killer all this time. No wonder he always seemed callous. "The moment he released Oswald, I knew he's fishy."

"Barbara Kean's free as well," he informed. My mouth hung open at that. "She visited Jim at my house. I didn't know how she knows where he is."

"So how are we going to capture Professor Strange? Does Jim or Bruce found any leads?" I eyed the tired old detective beside me. He looked and smelled like he haven't shower for a few day

"We?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah. What wrong?"

"Look, Muffin. I know that you're trying to make yourself occupied because of what happened to Ed," he said, looking at me warily.

"Seriously? That's what you came up with? After dragging me with you doing police work all this time? I just want to help you guys, like I always did," I retorted, getting agitated unnecessarily. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

Bullock studied me for a while, weighing his options in his head.

"Fine," he concluded. "We don't have hard evidence. The only witness is dead because of a resurrected Victor Fries."

Bullock told me about Mr. Freeze as well. What is happening to this city? Dang it! Professor Strange is playing God! He had done so many crimes yet he's still free and continues doing inhuman experiments in secrets. Edward is in Arkham at the moment. I fear that Professor Hugo would do something horrible to him.

I remembered that I didn't cry on the day the police send him to Arkham. It was like my brain had shut down all emotions. I still carry on life though, like a zombie. Baking, selling, deliveries, baking, selling, deliveries. Edward had been refusing my visits and each time it was like someone slashed my heart over and over again. So it also had become my habit to talk to Edward's mug in my kitchen.

"So we don't have anything to tie on him?" I asked after a while. I pushed the thoughts of Edward to the back of my mind.

"Nope."

I arrived home about 10 minutes ago but I couldn't find my phone. I couldn't find it in my pocket and bag. I called Bullock using my landline but he said that my phone's not in his car. So it probably slipped out when I sit in Uncle Nate's office. I need it just in case I got messages from my customers so I returned to the GCPD.

Once I arrived, I paused outside for a moment because there were media presses outside of the buidling. Did I miss something?

I heard one of the reporter said that the precinct was attacked by the masked man. I groaned and went to the other side of the building to sneak in.

It was very dark. I fished out a flashlight from my bag. Yes, I got everything in my bag, like a Doraemon's pocket. Besides, you had to be prepared in Gotham. I switched on my flashlight and studied the surroundings.

I heard hurried footsteps from the emergency stairs. I instantly switched on my poor sneaking skills and rushed to the stairs. I saw a glimpse of Jim carrying a rifle towards the rooftop.

"Jim!" I shouted.

"Sarah?!" he halted midway and stared down at me. "Stay put!" he ordered.

Oh, no I won't, I thought in my mind and ran upstairs following him.

I was out of breath once I reached the top and staggered out the door. Jim was pointing his rifle towards someone who looks like Theo Galavan. He was wearing the same outfit as Azrael. My feet step backwards and I leaned on the wall in shock. He was revived, just like Mr. Freeze. I noticed that Uncle Nate was lying on the ground, grunting in pain.

Jim blasted the rifle in his hold against Theo Galavan. But he avoided all of them, jumping from one car to another, like a superhuman. Jim successfully shot his leg and then constantly shooting the man's chest. Due to the impact of the bullets, the man fell from the ledge. Jim ran to the ledge to check up on while I rushed to Uncle Nate's side. He was stabbed very deep.

"No. No, no, no, no, no, no. Uncle Nate, can you hear me?" I whispered. The weapon was still plunged in his abdomen and I can't take it out. With shaky hand, I dialed emergency line and informed the receiver about the situation.

"It's getting crazy in this town, huh? Why are you still living here?" he coughed. I noticed Jim had joined us, crouching down on the other side of Uncle Nate.

"Don't talk. Just breathe. You're gonna be okay," Jim said. I cried more as Uncle Nate was having difficulties in breathing properly. I swiftly check his pulse and his heartbeat is higher than average.

"You two are a pain in the ass, you know that?" he managed to breathe out. All of a sudden he passed out. I panicked and shouted out his name.

"Uncle Nate! No!"

"Boss! Cap… Stay with us…"

I sighed in relief, wiping the tears from my face, when backup had arrived as well as the paramedic. I helped them get Uncle Nate on the stretcher. He had lost conscious a few minutes ago. We had to hurry.

"We have to go the hospital now. His pulses suddenly become too high…" I blurted to the paramedic.

"His BP's falling fast," a female paramedic did a quick examination on Uncle Nate. "Radio Gotham General. Let'em know we're coming in hot!" A few other paramedics were with us and we wheeled the stretcher together. "Let us do our job, ma'am." The female paramedic tried to stop me, holding my shoulders while the other paramedics pushed the stretcher.

"I'm his niece. Please let me go with you," I wailed.

"Alright. You can come with us. Don't worry. We're gonna save him." We rushed towards my uncle's stretcher, following hot in pursuit from behind.

I nodded as I saw Bullock rushed towards Jim. He did a quick glance to Uncle Nate and me in worry and after that continued running to the former detective.

Two weeks.

The doctor said two weeks.

Uncle Nate is going to be bored lying on bed all day. I almost hugged the doctor when he told me that the surgery was a success and Uncle Nate is alive and well. He said that Uncle Nate may not be able to stand and walk properly because the stab was around his front hip and it damaged the nerve connecting to his leg.

At least he's alive.

I eyed his unconscious form. This giant teddy bear. He's not scary when he's unconscious. I forgot to take my phone from the GCPD again. It's fine, Uncle Nate is more important. A nurse entered the room to examine him. It was the nurse that I talked to when I was looking for Uncle Nate after he was injured in Galavan's penthouse.

"Good morning," she greeted. I don't think she remembered me. After all it was a quick moment.

"Good morning," I replied, smiling at the green-eyed woman. As I had seen her before, her flaxen hair is kept in a tidy bun. She's wearing make-up at the moment, unlike last time, perhaps a date later at lunch.

"He'll be waking up in a few hours. You can go home and rest," she consoled, mirroring my smile.

"If he woke up, he'll be in an angry state. So he might threatened you guys, but don't listen to him. Tell him his niece will make sure he'll stay here as long as he needs it."

Once I said that, she looked at her paper (I assumed she was double checking the name) and then looked at Uncle Nate's face and then to me. A sudden realization came up to her.

"Oh, it's… him," she said in displeased. I laughed at her facial expression. "The way he talks. He's always…" Her free hand made some gestures in the air. She's struggling to find the correct word.

"Barking," I helped her finished her sentence.

"Yeah. Barking. Are you the niece?" she asked and I nodded. "I don't envy your life," she grimaced. I laughed again and introduced my name. "I'm Amelia Jones. You seemed cool. You worked at the police station like your uncle as well?"

"Nah. I would love too though. There're so many bad things here in Gotham."

"Tell me about it. Dating Harvey Dent exposes many hidden crimes in the city."

"You're Harvey's girlfriend?" I gasped. I finally met her. "The macarons, that Harvey always bought. I made them!"

"Oh my God! You're The Sarah? As in Muffinhead Sarah?" she exclaimed. Seriously Harvey even told her my nickname. "You made the best macarons ever!" She instantly embraced me with joy. I was a bit startled since I don't really hug people that I just had acquaintance with. But I gradually wrapped my left arm around her back. She let me go and admired me. "I should visit your place! Harvey said that you sell from your house."

"Sure. Come by anytime. I have tasting samples as well," I grinned. This woman is loud and cheery.

"Yay! So glad to meet you, Sarah. I had to go check other rooms. Bye!"

As she exited the room, I felt pleased that I have got a new friend.

I borrowed the hospital's phone and called Harvey. I politely asked him to look for my phone in Uncle Nate's office and asked if he could bring it to me. When he arrived, I saw Jim was in the car as well.

"Did you found my phone?" I asked as I entered the car. Jim handed it to me and I muttered a quick thank you. They sped up and we were not going in the direction of my apartment. "Uh… where are we going?"

"Arkham. We're gonna bust Hugo Fucking Strange," Bullock responded. "You said you want in so I got you in."

"I don't agree with this but he insisted," Jim argued at me.

"I helped save your live many times, Jim. You really should consider me as an ally," I said bitterly. "Besides I took self-defense classes. I just started last week though."

"And here I thought you're just a baker," Jim grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"I am a baker, Jim."

We stormed into Arkham ignoring the guards. I stayed closed to Jim and Bullock because I did not know my ways in these countless corridors. The inmates were stirred up as they saw us because we brought a few patrol officers, whom were walking behind us. I guessed they were not really fond of the police. I peered amongst the inmates, looking for Edward, but I didn't manage to because we were walking really fast to see Professor Strange.

"What is the meaning of this? You're upsetting the inmates," Ms. Peabody panned, as she approached us.

"Where's your boss darling? We got a warrant to search his office and everything in it," Bullock retorted, waving a folded piece of paper in his hand. Oh yeah, we got the upper hand today.

"He's busy with patients," she coldly replied. She did not appear to be worry about the warrant.

"That's quite all right, Ms. Peabody," Professor Strange arrived looking poised. It was like he expected the GCPD would come here. Bullock continued snapping how he would tear the place apart, finding for answers. "Answers to what?" Professor Strange asked in a gullible tone but all of us knew that he's not innocent.

"Records indicate Theo Galavan's dead body was brought here, that it was cremated."

"Seems likely."

"Then why the Hell was he at the GCPD last night, running our captain through with a sword, huh?"

"I'm as surprised as you are." He was denying the accusation.

"And while you're at it, explain to me this: why Victor Fries, also last seen here, very dead, is alive and kicking and dressed like a spaceman! You stink, Strange. This whole damned place stinks."

The two detectives – I mean one detective and a… bounty hunter walked past Professor Strange and Ms. Peabody towards what I assumed is the office of the chief of Arkham. I followed them closely behind. We barged open the office but we were greeted with a bag of shredded papers.

"He's ahead of us," I groaned, while Bullock cursed under his breath.

"Spring cleaning," the professor quipped. "You're free to look around. I'm just not sure there's much more to see."

The more he opened his mouth the more I got irritated at him. Jim advanced in controlled anger towards him.

"You think shredding a few documents is gonna save you? It won't. We're onto you. Bad guys come in and monsters come out. Just like Pinewood, right?" Jim alleged.

"Seeing as how you no longer work, for the police department, I'm not required to speak with you, Mr. Gordon," he sarcastically uttered. Jim approached him closer. "You have a lot of anger, James Gordon. I can help you with that."

I watched with pride as Bullock gave his speech to the detectives and officers in the precinct. Uncle Nate is still in the hospital so they need a new leader. And guess who? It's my pal, Harvey Bullock! He was a little awkward after his speech. I supposed he was not used to being in the spotlight. But I wouldn't worry about that, he is going to have a huge responsibility on his shoulders.

"I'm not the one with speeches," he whispered to Jim, after finishing his powerful speech.

"No, no, no, you did fine," Jim replied.

"If he bleeds, he can be beaten!" I badly imitated him and then gave him a thumbs-up. Both of them instantly glared daggers to me. I mumbled a tiny apology and get back being serious.

"If that was Galavan that we saw, he'll know how to stay out of sight. We got to think outside of the box," Jim deduced.

"What about Tabitha?" I suggested. "Tabitha Galavan."

Bullock and Jim had sent me home while they went to chase Tabitha. This time I was send home voluntarily because I have to check up on Uncle Nate at night. I want to shower and pray first before going to the hospital. I sighed as I stretched my neck to relief the soreness on my shoulders and neck.

Stepping into the kitchen, I greeted Edward's mug. I called him Edmug, sometimes Nygmug.

"Hi Edmug. I had rough night and a tiring day. What you were up to?" I stared at its emerald polished body, waiting for its replies. "Do you want me to keep the radio on so you won't feel bored?" I grabbed Edmug and brought it to my bedroom. I want to keep on talking with it. "I was at Arkham this morning. Thought I might get a glimpse of Edward but I didn't manage to. Everything was fast you know. Although he'll hate it if he sees me."

I stroke the mug with my thumb and then let out loud groaned in frustration. I should calm myself down with a hot shower and spending time with my God, I thought while walking into my bathroom.

Let go of the past, Sarah. Let it go.

5.54pm. I checked the time from my phone and then snapped it shut. I just arrived in the hospital, giving a quick wave to Amelia when I saw her talking to a patient. As I arrived in Uncle Nate's room, I noticed that he was still unawake. I went took a clean towel and went into the joint restroom to damp the towel. Then I proceed on wiping my uncle's face, neck and arms gently.

"He woke up around 4pm. He just ate his medication and fell asleep," Amelia said from the door. I turned my head and smiled at her.

"Thank you for telling me," I expressed. "Did he behave well?"

"Er… it was okay," she giggled. "I told him that you waited here and he calmed down a bit. He tried to wake up to see you but the medications made him drowsy."

"I hope he's not a trouble," I said, giving her an apologetic smile. Then my phone buzzed. "Sorry. I have to accept this call." It was Jim. I pressed the green button and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Sarah. Azrael is after Bruce. Can you check with them? They didn't answer my call. I'm on my way to the Wayne Manor," he urgently informed.

"O-okay. I'll go there now," I ended the call then looked at Amelia. "I had to go. It's urgent. Bye, Amelia!"

When I ran out through the main entrance of the hospital, I saw a familiar limping figure just entering an elevator. Oswald is in Gotham? I checked on which floor he stopped at and rushed to the stairs to him. Once I arrived at the floor, I heard indistinct shouting in one of the rooms. I eavesdropped one by one, making sure I entered the correct room. I opened one carefully after I was certain.

"See, I will not buy this whole uber-villain nonsense. I mean, if he wanted to wear leather, he should just wear leather. This is Gotham City. No one care, right?" I heard Oswald said. Thank God, the door was out of their sight. "We have all suffered by his hand. Me, you, my mother. And now his own sister."

I furrowed my brows together. What are they talking about? Why talk about fashion sense in anger?

"Galavan must die," he strongly said. He must have seen Azrael's face in the news. That is probably why he's back in Gotham.

"Oswald," I called, revealing myself. Butch swiftly pointed his gun to me but a bit relieved that it was just plain old me so he directed his gun back to Oswald. "Hiya. You're back… and angry."

"You can't stop me, Sarah," Oswald smirked. "Sorry, I was in dreamland the whole time. Now I'm fully awake."

I know he was talking about the time after he was 'cured' by Professor Strange. No more kind Oswald, now it is Penguin who stood few feet from me. Slowly I walked closer to him and stopped about two feet from him. I shifted my eyes to the person on the hospital bed. Tabitha. My mind reeled back to what Oswald had said previously. So Azrael hurt her as well.

"I'm not going to stop you," I replied. He stared at me with a glint in his eyes. I was always the good girl, so I guessed he was curious to why I let him does his things now. "M-My friends are in danger. Azrael. The new Galavan. He's tough. He has enhanced physical abilities. It will be difficult to apprehend him." I was worried about Bruce and Alfred. Even with Jim, they can't defeat Azrael.

"Where is he?" Oswald demanded, limping towards me and I gulped.

I stared at him right in the eyes. "Wayne Manor."