Chapter 30: And into the Fire

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit! I quickly scrambled to find the file shark in my belt. I plugged it into the computer, hit download, and hoped that it had enough space on it for everything. Then I shut the monitor off, turned on camo mode, praying to who or what ever would listen that I wouldn't get caught. The footsteps kept coming, painfully closer with each step. The door opened and I held my breath. I had to stop myself from gasping once my eyes adjusted to the light.

Standing in front of me was Victoria Rogers herself. My mother. And she was looking directly at me.

"I guess I was wrong, Nick. There's nothing here. Remind Rob to call the security company after the holiday. We can't keep having false alarms," She said to the security guard with her, never taking her eyes off of me, even though I was technically invisible.

"I'll leave a note for him, ma'am," Nick nodded and walked out, "You coming Dr. Rogers?" He asked when she didn't follow.

"Go on ahead. It seems Mrs. Overbeck forgot turn off her computer," Victoria finally looked away from me. I let out the breath I was holding. Once Nick was out of ear shot she turned back to me.

"You can come out now Ms. Grayson."

I reluctantly switched off camo mode and pulled the hood off my face.

"What is the granddaughter of Bruce Wayne doing breaking into one of my buildings? This is hopefully all a misunderstanding? I would hate for such a promising young woman to have a dirty record so young." She smirked. I glared at her.

"Cut the crap Victoria. Or should I call you Mom? Or maybe Valentina?" I spat. She stopped for half a second at the mention of her original name. Then she schooled her features and chuckled.

"So you do know. I wondered how long after our meeting it would take you. I trust you know about Jason too?" Her accent graded on my nerves. Or maybe it was just her overall presence in general.

"I do. And about the lovely little gift you left in my head before ditching me."

"I would assume as much considering that you are here, and what you did at my Gotham office."

She knew? How? My shock must've shown on my face. "That chip is so much more than you know my child. I know more about you than your father does. Either of them."

There was the sound of a police siren outside. I looked out the window to see a couple of cop cars approach the building.

"You might want to hurry with whatever you're trying to steal, Mija," I cringed at the Spanish endearment, "I may have called the police before coming up here. And I know you know how well New York's finest do their job," She smiled sweetly before waving and walking out the door, "You might want to leave now, because my security is also on their way," she called. That got me moving.

I pulled the file shark out, not caring if it was done or not. I needed to move. I booked it to the stairwell, catching a smirking Victoria in the elevator. I growled in frustration, and started taking the stairs two at a time. I could hear people in the stairwell. Shit. I could out run them, I hoped. If only the stairwell was wide enough, I could grapple my way to the top. That gave me an idea.

I ducked into the nearest floor and made a b-line to the elevator. I grabbed a random batarang and pried the doors open. I looked into the shaft and was grateful this building had a hover-vator. No cables to maneuver around. Now hopefully the grapple had enough line to get me to the roof. I shot it and waited for it to find purchase near the top of the shaft.

The line went taunt and I was headed upward in an instant. Keeping a tight hold on the batarang still in my hand, I reached the top in seconds. I threw the batarang at the elevator doors, crossing my fingers that it was explosive. It stuck harmlessly into the door. Shit.

I could feel the muscles in my arm start to tremble from the strain of holding my entire weight. I searched through my belt, frantically trying to remember if I even grabbed any explosives. After what seemed like forever, I found a single explosive batarang and I almost cried in relief. I threw it and tightened into a ball as well as I could while dangling 25 stories up. The blast made my ears ring, but I didn't have time to regain my hearing. The blast would have definitely alerted the police and security to where I was. I swung through the opening, landing more gracefully this time, and was off again before the grapple was fully retracted. And if my night wasn't already going to hell, the grapple hook whipped around, ripping part of the suit and cutting my thigh as it went.

"Mother Fucker!" I screamed, but ran through the pain. There was no way in hell I was going to get caught. I could just imagine the shit storm that would be waiting for me back in Gotham if I did. I made it to the creepy stairway and practically flew up to the roof. Unfortunately for me, a security guard had beat me up there. Come on!

"Stop!" She commanded, holding what was probably a taser. I promptly ignored her and ran to the edge of the roof, grapple gun ready.

"What are you doing? I said stop!" She called again. I pulled the hood over my face as identity protection. I turned around and faced her.

"Bye!" I gave a two finger salute before stepping backwards off the roof. The next second I sent the grapple to the next building, hitting the roof running. I didn't stop until I was at least half way home, to catch my breath.

"That has to be by far, the most Dick Grayson thing I have ever done," I breathed out loud to the empty roof, well, except for a couple of pigeons. I took a chance to look at my leg. It didn't really hurt at the moment, but that could've been from the adrenaline. It didn't look that bad, but after what happened to my arm, I doubted anything would ever look 'that bad' again. The cut was a little deeper than a surface wound, I would definitely need to clean it.

"This will fun to explain," I groaned, my breath visible in the winter air. Just when my arm was almost healed too. The universe hated me.

I pulled out some gauze and tied it around my thigh. It would have to do for now. Hopefully Aunt Cass was already in bed, or maybe her flight got delayed. I just hoped she wouldn't be around to ask questions.

I checked my phone, just in case I was right. I wasn't. Seven unread texts and three missed calls from her, and another from Dad. I was so screwed.

"Well, time to head into the fire," I said to the clueless pigeons. I gave myself another minute to calm my breathing then headed home.

I hadn't even gotten through my window before Aunt Cass was on my case.

"Explain," She demanded, gesturing to the suit. Out of all the kids, Aunt Cass had the Bat-glare down the best. I think it scared me more on her than it ever did on Bruce.

"I wanted to go for a test run," I answered lamely. She wasn't stupid enough to buy that.

"For three hours?" She said incredulously.

"I got lost?" I shrugged, taking off my belt.

"Liar. You grew up in New York," Her eyes landed on my leg, "Give me the truth."

"Fine," I rolled my eyes, "I learned something about my mother. I went to investigate."

"And you needed to steal a suit from Bruce because?"

"It was an available resource and I took advantage of it. Sue me," I said snidely.

"It was an unnecessary risk you took. What if you were caught? How would explain the suit to the police?" She argued.

"I didn't get caught, so what does it matter?" I challenged, untying the gauze from my leg. It had stopped bleeding, thankfully.

"Someone could've seen you on the rooftops. Jamie, it was reckless. You even got hurt," She gestured to my leg.

"This was my own stupidity. With a grapple gun," I muttered.

"That proves my next point. You're too inexperienced, and untrained."

"Bruce hadn't trained you when started in Gotham."

"I was raised by an assassin. I knew how to kill a person when I was eight. I didn't need training." Okay, she had me there. Bad example, but I wasn't going to admit that.

"And I've been trained by Nightwing. I know what I'm doing Aunt Cass," I said, peeling off the top half of the suit, leaving me in a tank top.

"You don't believe that." Damn, I forgot she could read body language.

"So what if I don't?" I sighed and sat on the air mattress I'd been using, "This needs to be done."

"You should let the police do their job. That's what they're there for. The answer to every crime isn't vigilantism," She sat next to me.

"I'm well aware. And I don't want this." I didn't sound very convincing. She didn't address that particular problem, thankfully.

"You need to tell Dick. Promise me you'll tell him what you've done," She looked at me sternly.

"You're not going to tell him?" I was genuinely surprised.

"No, but if you don't Bruce probably will, once he inevitably finds out," She wasn't wrong. I sighed, and focused on making sure my body language scream concession. I hunched over and put my hands on the back of my neck, looking at the wall in front of me. Never thought psychology class would come in handy.

"Alright. I promise I'll tell Dad." I sighed in fake defeat. I had no intention of telling Dad. Not when Victoria let me go with information. She wanted me know what she was up to. I needed to know why as much as I needed to know what Project Whisper was about.

Aunt Cass seemed satisfied with that and patted my shoulder.

"You might want to clean that cut. Grapple hooks aren't the cleanest things," she suggested, getting up. "I have some cleaning solution in the bathroom."

"I'll get on that."

"-was broken into by an unknown female last night. Police were called, but the culprit got away before they arrived. CEO and owner Victoria Rogers released a statement this morning.

'Nothing has been found missing or tempered with. It seems this was a harmless prank.

My security team is working to prevent another incident like this one.'

Police released a description of the culprit. Female. About 5'6- 5'10, early twenties. Black hair with purple highlights. Race unknown. If anyone has any information, you're encouraged to call the number here. Back to you Joanne."

I closed my laptop on the news report that had popped up in my MedCorp search. What was Victoria playing at? She knew I had taken the files. She was toying with me, but why? Other than her doing illegal experiments, she had no reason to lie to the cops.

The other issue was that they had my description, broad and inaccurate as it was. Guess it was time for me to dye my hair.

I grabbed the suit and examined the tear in the leg. It wouldn't work for sure now. Hopefully, last night would be the only time I would need it. Bruce probably would never even notice it was gone, let alone damaged.

"Jamie, your friend is here," Aunt Cass called. I quickly shoved the suit into my suitcase and went out to meet Ko for our night of "New Year's fun" as she put it.

When I stepped off the train in Gotham two days later, I was surprised to see Bruce waiting for me. I thought for sure Dad would be picking me up.

"Um, hi?" I awkwardly waved. And here I thought I was used to Bruce by now.

"Dick had some last minute paperwork to finish for the gym," He answered my unasked question.

"Will that affect opening next week?" I asked as we walked towards the parking garage.

"He hopes not."

"Are you two on speaking terms now?" They were pretty civil during Christmas, maybe something had changed.

"No. He knew you would ask." He said as we got into the car.

"Oh," We fell into another awkward silence. It felt like there was a tension surrounding Bruce. Did something happen while I was at home?

"Is everything okay? McGinnis didn't get hurt did he?" That was the only thing I could think of that could put Bruce in this strange mood.

"He's fine." He said in a clipped tone. Okay then.

The drive back to the manor was quiet (what a surprise.) I texted Terry, asking what happened while I was gone, hoping he could give me a clue to why Bruce was acting more broody than usual.

He said the Batsuit had gotten taken over by an AI of a dead CEO, but Terry handled it. The suit was out of commission for now though. Maybe that was it? Bruce was on edge because Terry had to use a backup suit? Or that the bat-network was potentially compromised?

"I could help checkout the system if you want," I offered after I told him Terry had caught me up with what happened.

"The system is fine. I already ran a diagnostics test."

Well there went that idea. We spent the rest of the ride in complete silence.

I found out as soon as we got to the manor what was wrong.

"Return the suit to the cave and then meet me in my study," he said in that same clipped tone.

Shit. So that's why he was acting so weird. He knew. Aunt Cass must've told him. Or he saw the news. Not many people fit my description or have my resources.

I took my sweet time in the cave, dreading going to the study. Second time in a month, that had to be some kind of record. Only this time, I wouldn't have the buzz of alcohol in my system. Shit.

I slowly made my way to Bruce's study on the second floor. Somewhere along the way, Ace found me and stayed by my side. Sometimes it felt like the dog was the only one on my side anymore.

I reached the door to the study. I could hear Bruce shuffling papers on the other side.

"Well boy," I whispered to Ace, "time to face the fire. Again."

I knocked on the door and entered. I held my head high, and sat in the chair across from Bruce's desk. I met his eyes in defiance. Nothing he could say, or any punishment he could give would stop me from finding out what Victoria was up to and how it was connected to Anni's death. Err, I mean Eric Michelson's death. Not even the obvious Bat-glare would deter me.

"You're not allowed in the cave, or to deal with anything related to Batman from now on," He started. I wouldn't get to explain myself, not this time. "You're not allowed outside of your room for the next month, except for school and meals," He said sternly. I sat quietly, resisting the urge to smirk. He wouldn't have any power over me once he told Dad about this. And Bruce would tell him, no doubt, because I sure as hell wasn't going to.

"What you did was dangerous, irresponsible, and reckless. You could've gotten caught, or worse, killed." I almost laughed at that. I highly doubted my life was ever in that much danger. I was too much of an asset to Victoria for her to kill me.

"Do you have anything to say?" He finally asked me. I stared directly into his eyes.

"I'll do it again if I have to," I told him with no remorse, "I know too much to just sit by."

"What happened to being content with staying the cave, leaving things to Terry?"

"That was before I learned my mother was connected to my best friend's death." I shot back. If that was news to him, he didn't let it show.

"So you lied to Dick."

"No," I bit out. I was willing to admit I had a lot of faults, but I refused to be called a liar. "I learned things. I'm doing what needs to be done. Something you of all people should understand." I snapped.

"You're trying to find connections where there are none. You don't want to admit your friend made a mistake trusting her mentally unstable father, and that's what got her killed," Bruce said evenly. I had never wanted to smack Bruce so much in my life.

"Don't you dare stay that about Anni!" I stood up and settled for slamming a fist on the desk instead of his face. "You have no right to judge Anni, a girl you've never met. She had more compassion for people than you'll ever have! Don't you ever blame her death on her!" I shouted. I hated that he had gotten to me, but even in her death, I would still defend Anni. Bruce be damned.

"You can't think clearly. You'll still grieving, Jamie," It threw me off that he used my name. I didn't realize how little he said it, "You need time to process her death properly, without the added stress of what Victoria did to you." He seemed determined to push my anger to it's limits tonight. I could feel the sting of tears in my eyes. No. I refused to cry.

"I'm not thinking clearly? Are you serious?! I know more than I ever have, and you say I can't think straight! I have never been more determined to do anything in my life! I will stop Victoria and prove she's connected to all this. AND YOU CAN GO TO HELL!" I screamed, the unwelcomed tears streamed down my face. Frozen for a moment at my own outburst, I snapped out of it and ran out of the study, ignore Bruce's calls after me.

I ran through the manor, not caring where I was going. I had to force myself to ignore the urge to call that number I knew would never get picked up again. That just made me cry harder. I vaguely remember entering a room and collapsing onto the bed. The pillow smelled slightly like gunpowder and something else. It was strangely comforting, and I fell asleep with an unexplained memory of leather and red.

This chapter made me angry at Bruce with Jamie. This poor girl just needs a hug.

This is one of the longest chapters in the whole story, and the next one might be just as long.

Fun Fact: Jamie and Ko split their New Year's night into American and Japanese celebrations