Chapter 18: Break

Monday and Tuesday were a blur of homework and exhaustion for me. I did apologize to Max on Monday and all was forgiven. I sort of avoided Bruce, not really wanting to talk about what happened between him and Dad, or face the fact that I wouldn't be living in the Manor much longer. The past week had drained me physically and emotionally and I was too slagged to deal with anything else. I slept most of the train ride home, because it was easier than trying to think of what I would say when I saw Dad again. Our argument was far from over.

When I got off the train, I hadn't expected anyone to be waiting for me, considering it was late. I was surprised to see Anni waiting for me with a huge smile.

"Jay!" She gave me a big hug.

"Anni? What are you doing here?" I was confused by her bright and cheerful demeanor, a stark contrast to my last gloomy conversation with her and what Ko had been telling me.

"You really think I would let you come home without someone here to greet you?" She said with mock offense.

"No? I just didn't expect you … I thought you...It's nice to see you."

She laughed. "Yeah." She understood why I was a little thrown off. "Sorry for being so depressing the last few months. I'm better now though!" She beamed. We headed towards my apartment building.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I got some good news!" She said excitedly. I couldn't help but smile at her. It was great to see her so happy and herself again.

"What good news?"

"I can't tell you yet. But it makes these past few months a little less painful." That was odd. Usually Anni and I told each other everything. I didn't press the issue though, because it wasn't like I didn't have my own secrets back in Gotham.

"Well I'm glad you're happy. Any exciting plans for Thanksgiving?" I changed the subject.

"Just the usual visit to my grandparents. Nothing like your's will be." She smiled. I looked at her confused.

"Oops. Pretend I didn't just tell you that there's a surprise for you at home."

"Oh goodie." I said flatly.

"You don't want to go home?" She questioned.

"Haven't you heard? I was the target of a villain because of Bruce. Because of that Dad decided to make a impromptu visit to Gotham."

"Explain." She demanded. So I did. I told her about Spellbinder, arguing with Bruce over my role in the family, finding the microchip, (all without mentioning Batman of course), meeting Victoria, Dad moving, the argument about my mother. I told her about the less important things too. Like how Bruce and I seemed to get along for the most part, about what good friends I had become with Max, Terry, and Dana. How I really wanted a dog because of Ace, the old bedroom in the manor that had a collection of old, well-worn, paperbacks that I would sneak into and read.

I hadn't realized how much Anni and I relied on each other for venting or just talking until then. With her being so distant the past few months, I gave her her space and left my feelings alone which didn't do well for my stress levels. I stopped walking and looked at her.

"What?" She stopped too. I hugged her.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too Jay. Now come on." She dragged me into my apartment building.

"Ugh." I groaned.

"You're gonna have to face him sometime. And if you want him to tell you things, you should start by telling him about the microchip you found." She reasoned. This was why she was the better person of the two of us. She saw things from everyone else's perspective, not just her own.

We opened the door to the apartment to find the place filled with stacks of boxes.

"Dad! I brought a stray home! Can we keep her?" Anni called out. Instead of Dad, a lean Asian woman appeared out from the boxes. She smiled at me.

"Jamie!" She hugged me.

"Aunt Cass?" I questioned. Over the top of Aunt Cass' head I could see Anni beaming at me.

"You've grown." Aunt Cass stepped back and looked me over. I was a good three inches taller than her now. It had been at least three years since we had last seen each other. Her job, whatever it was, had her traveling a lot.

"Where's Dad?"

"Getting more boxes from storage."

"More? How much crap do you two have?" Anni piped up.

"Some are mine." Aunt Cass patted a stack of boxes.

"Your's?" I questioned.

"Dick didn't tell you? I'm going to be living here until I find a place. I'm moving to New York for work." Of course he didn't tell me. He never tells me anything.

"What do you do?" Anni asked.

"Work for a security company." Aunt Cass said. Her vague response made me think it had something to do with Batman or at least her past as a hero.

"Cass, when Jamie gets here, have her talk to me." Dad came through the door with a stack of boxes in his arms. I heard a giggle from Anni.

"Who says I want to talk." I spoke up. Dad set down the boxes and looked at me sternly.

"You don't have a choice. Come on." He opened the door. I rolled my eyes.

"Now do you understand why I didn't want to come?" I whispered Anni. She smiled and rolled her eyes at me.

"You'll be fine." She whispered back.

"Jamie please." Dad called from the doorway.

"Coming." I followed him out to the hallway. He lead the way up to the roof and took a seat at an outdoor table someone had left up there years ago. I kept standing, wanting to make this quick.

"What do you want?" I asked, more tired than annoyed.

"I know I left Gotham on bad terms. And I promise we will resolve this, but until we get time to, let's temporarily drop the issue." He said.

"What do you mean? I'm not letting this one go, Dad."

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm asking you to put it on hold. Let's enjoy Thanksgiving and make your aunt feel comfortable for now. A temporary compromise."

"A compromise would mean I at least get something I want." I argued.

"Fine. A stalemate, then. We can come up with a compromise later."

"You promise?" I asked sternly.

"I can't promise everything Little Bird. But I'll try." He got up and wrapped me into a hug. I was too tired to fight it and it was honestly nice. I missed his hugs.

"I promise too, I guess." I mumbled into his shoulder. Anni's suggestion about telling Dad about the microchip came to mind.

"Come on, we don't want to leave Cass with Anni too long. Anni will have Cass wrapped around her finger if we do."He joked, heading back inside.

"Dad, we'll be okay right? These secrets aren't going to tear us apart like they did to you and Bruce?" I stood still. I loved my dad more than anyone and for the first time the thought crossed my mind that those in the Wayne family were doomed to have bad relationships with each other. And that terrified me.

Dad walked towards me and put his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to lock eyes/eye with him.

"You are my daughter, Jamie Grayson. Nothing you do can take my love for you away." He pulled me into another hug. How this turned from an almost argument to reassurance was baffling, but I took it. I was so tired of arguing.

"Come on, its too cold to stay out here." Dad suggested and we headed back inside.

Wednesday and Thanksgiving went by uneventfully, which was fine with me, I needed a break. On Friday, Ko dragged me out shopping, as was our tradition. We were wandering around a home goods store when I decided to bring something up that had been bothering me.

"So what's up with Anni?" I asked Ko. She sighed in annoyance.

"I don't know and she refuses to tell me. She's been extremely cheerful for the last week. She won't even tell Jonah what's going on. I think her mom finally got her some anti-depressants, but Jonah thinks its something else." She said while looking at a fancy pots and pans set.

"What could it be that she can't tell her best friends or boyfriend?"

"Hell if I know. I'm just glad to have my best friend back."

I nodded in agreement. It wasn't that Ko and I weren't best friends, just Anni had a way with people that we didn't. Anni was the first one to befriend Ko in sixth grade, and subsequently, Ko and I became friends. Ko and I were more like partners in crime with Anni as our chaperone.

"Anyways. I can't believe you're moving to Gotham." Ko said.

"I've already moved to Gotham." I reminded her. She glared at me.

"You know what I mean. Is it weird knowing you'll live there permanently?"

"Not really. Dad said we can work something out so I can spend senior year here with you and Anni. If Einstein Prep will accept me again."

"You can't just wave your fancy connection to Bruce Wayne? I mean that's how I've stayed so long. Mom and Dad's name help."

"And I'm sure their billions have nothing to do with it." I joked.

"Just like Bruce's didn't have anything to do with your school in Gotham." She laughed. "Face it, Jay, you're part of the rich kids club now." She waved her platinum credit card in my face. I pulled out my own gold one and smirked.

"Of course I am." I grinned. She pouted at my higher level card.

"How can I brag about being rich when you have that?"

"Apparently Bruce trusts me more with his money than your parents do with theirs." I teased.

"Whatever. At least I'm not afraid of my parents." She playfully hit my bad arm. I hissed in pain. "Whats wrong?" Ko asked in a panic. I looked around and noticed a few people were staring at us.

"Not here. Let's talk somewhere else." I dragged her out of the store.

"So your school counselor was evil and triggered constant nightmares for you?" Ko summed up, taking a sip of her tea. We were in a corner of a coffee shop and I had just finished telling her about my adventure with Spellbinder and the discovery of the microchip and it's possible origins.

"Sort of. The microchip messed with my head more."

"How did you even find the chip? That seems a little more advanced than what a generic med scanner can find." I never gave her enough credit for being so observant. Her loud and obnoxious personality usually overshadowed it, but she was the smartest person I knew.

"Bruce has connections." I left it at that. She didn't seem satisfied with that answer, but she didn't press.

"So what are you going to do about the chip?"

"There isn't much I can do right now. Even though I don't like the idea of it, it isn't harming me."

"Except giving you nightmares about all your friends and family dying." Ko said.

"I think that's my own subconscious. From what we can tell, it's just monitoring my physical reactions." I finished off the last of my latte. "Plus Anni's sudden mood change concerns me more."

Ko rolled her eyes. "She'll tell us eventually, Jay. Anni can't keep a secret for long. I bet we'll know by the end of next week what it is."

"I guess you're right." I sighed. It still bothered me though. I had this nagging feeling that Anni was up to something she shouldn't be. I usually had that suspicion around Ko, not Anni.

"Of course I am. Now let's get back to shopping!"

Well Anni is up to something. Wonder what it is? And Aunt Cass has arrived! Don't worry, she'll play more of a role later in the story. I felt some Jamie/Ko bonding was needed. And Jamie needs to work on her communication skill with Bruce and Dick.

Fun Fact(eh not really): TERRY IS COMING BACK TO THE COMICS IN JUNE AND I AM SO EXCITED! No offense to Tim, but Terry will always be my Batman Beyond. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I suggest reading Future's End, or at least a summary of it.