Mother Dearest

A Batman Beyond FanFiction

Written by: Celestial Moon

E-Mail: ArmaniGirlAX@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I do not (sadly) own Terry McGinnis. This story is purely fictional. Some of the characters are my own, etc etc. This is just for the enjoyment of all of you. Please leave some feedback :D

Part 10

Friday 3:20 PM

Hamilton High School

Courtyard

Terry sat on the stone steps. waiting for Dana to come out of the building. She had an after school swim meet that was about to end in ten minutes. Terry needed to see her.

His cell phone rang. "Yes?"

"They found nothing. His place was clean. Apparently, he lives there alone."

"Nothing at all?" Terry felt his stomach drop down to the ground.

"No. I'll look more into this Jason Mannings though. He seems like an interesting lead."

Terry hung up the phone and continued waiting. He had returned home last night, hoping that it was all a misunderstanding, that his mother was really at home. However, he found the apartment as dark and empty as he had left it.

Terry sat up quickly.

Matt.

He'd call Dana later. Right now he had to find his brother.

Terry checked his watch. It was 3:25. His brother got out of the middle school at 4:00 sharp.

Friday 3:50 PM

Katherine Kennedy Middle School

There were students crowding the hallways when Terry walked into the school. All he knew was that Matt was in Homeroom 213. That meant that he was on the second floor.

Terry shuddered, remembering his own three years in this building. Three years of running around with the wrong people, being thrown into Juvie Hall... All these years Terry had felt responsible for the screaming fights between his mother and father. The fights which led to the eventual separation and divorce between his parents, the separation between him and his brother.

He knew the building by heart, each hiding place, every meeting place. He stood before the door to room 213. He slowly knocked, then pushed the door open.

Matt's homeroom teacher was an old man. He stood at the front of the class, checking his watch impatiently. He looked up when Terry walked in.

"I'm looking for Matt McGinnis."

"If it isn't Terry McGinnis." The old man smiled coldly at Terry.

"Do I know you?"

The man walked over, his eyes cold and glittering. "Mr. Kletzkin."

Mr. Kletzkin... Terry's memory raced, placing names with faces, faces with facts. Eighth Grade. The one teacher whose statement threw him into Juvie.

Edward Kletzkin.

Terry took a step back from the advancing old man. "I remember you."

"Still getting into trouble, kid?"

"No."

He laughed harshly. "Sure. Kids like you never change. I suppose that someday I'll see you being arrested on the news. Matt?" he waved Matt over.

Terry turned around and opened the door. Matt followed him out of the room.

"What was that?" Terry's younger brother asked. He held onto his book bag tightly with his right hand. In his left was an overnight bag.

"It's nothing."

"Mom didn't pick me up yesterday, and when I called the house, no one picked up." Matt seemed oblivious to the entire situation.

"She went away on vacation. You're going to stay at Mr. Wayne's house for a few days. I'm staying there also."

Matt's eyes glittered brightly. "Mr. Wayne?! Millionaire Wayne?! I'm going to stay in his house? SHWAY!" His brother bounded energetically down the hall. "That's really awesome!"

Terry nodded, smiling at his brother with amusement.

Matt stopped. "Where did mom go?"

Terry paused, unsure. "I don't know," he replied truthfully. What time did she drop you off at your friend's house?"

"Around 6. Why?"

So it was before he went to visit Christina... He could still see Jason's expressionless eyes as he said 'Good bye, Terry. Give my regards to your family.' Could his mother have been in that apartment? No, the apartment was empty.

Terry drifted back into reality. His brother looked at him expectantly.

"What?" Terry asked.

"Can we eat before we go to Mr. Wayne's?"

Terry smiled and put his arms around his brother's shoulders. "Sure thing."

Terry had taken Matt out for pizza before returning to their house to pick up clothes and other supplies. He didn't want to take Matt to the Wayne mansion, but he didn't have much of a choice. He couldn't just leave Matt at home by himself. The safest thing was to keep him at Wayne's.

Matt held onto his brother tightly as they rode up the twisted hill towards the mansion. They rode through the large metal gates. Matt couldn't help but feel just a little intimidated by the looming house. He hopped off the bike when Terry parked it in front of the main entrance.

"Come on, twip." Terry said, pulling Matt along.

"Wow..." he replied in awe.