The two girls stood in line at the movie theater, anxiously awaiting to be allowed inside.

"This movie is supposed to be so shway." Dana excitedly turned to her pink haired best friend

"I don't know, Dane. I'm not big on these virtual 3D flicks."

"And here I thought this was right up your alley?"

"I tend to pick them apart too much; technically, of course." Max clarified.


They heard the motorcycles long before they saw them. Over the din of the street, and the chitter of people waiting along the sidewalk, the hum and echoing laughter sent shivers down Dana's spine.

Roaring up the street, the group of Jokerz scattered patrons. The flashing lights above the dance club across the street shattered as a small group on foot threw gimmicks at the neon lights.

Terry sighed, "another night, another bunch of Jokerz to teach a lesson to." Landing in the dark shadows atop a nearby building, he observed the events below for a moment. He was feeling better, but not up to taking on that many Jokerz at once. Figuring out a plan of attack, Batman leapt from the building.

The first group were harassing customers outside a convenience store. A few punches and some wire and the miscreants were tied to a light post.

Jumping into the next group, Batman continued on.

"Geez, they're out in droves tonight." Terry voiced as he continued working his way up the street.

"This looks like a planned distraction." Bruce observed the misdemeanor crimes that were occurring on the vidscreen with a jaundiced eye.

"I was thinking that." Batman ducked as two clowns rushed passed, unable to see the wire stretched across the street until it was too late.

"Though I'm not detecting anymore alarms on this end."

"I still don't like it."

"Conserve your energy, their might be another wave waiting in the wings."

"Oh, there's a pleasant thought."

Terry grunted, while tossing one over his head, another landed a blow on his swollen shoulder. It was becoming more and more difficult for Terry to keep a handle on his temper.


Glancing down the street he noticed Dana and Max caught in the jostle of people trying to get inside.

"Damn it," he cursed to himself. Tying another group securely in a bunch, Batman left them in the middle of the street.

"Where's the cavalry?"

"On their way. It seems the Jokerz left a practical joke for the police."

"Like...?"

"Like their cars have been tampered with." Terry couldn't help the amused chuckle.

Something flittered just outside of his vision.

"You have me on radar?"

"Yes, why?" Bruce sat up in his chair. The kid had been holding his own remarkably well. Making good headway against the mob of Jokerz, receiving only the occasional hit. His tone, however, put Bruce's nerves on edge.

"Remember I said I saw something in the park? Well, I just saw it again."

"Can you identify?"

"Nope, kinda busy at the moment." He was growing weary of the games. His fighting techniques paying less attention to the individual Jokerz, and more to getting the job done. Broken bones be damned; if he was going to take care of this on his own, he had to react accordingly. So far, Bruce had said nothing. If he had felt that Terry was being overly aggressive, he'd have heard about it.

Leaving another bunch unconscious on the street and sidewalk. Batman fired on through more of the pests. His temper was short, his body rebelling this kind of continuous exertion. He was closing in on the movie theater, which was where they seemed to have congregated. He'd lost sight of Dana and Max, he hoped they'd managed to get inside.

"Terry!" He didn't see it coming. Another clown landed a hit on his shoulder.

Batman swung around, eyes blazing in his fury. The small crowd of Jokerz cowered, trying for a hasty retreat. "Slag it," he cursed again, firing a lasso, he took off, hauling with all he was worth, dragging them off the ground. Securing them to an over-hang, he left them dangling a few stories up. He'd had enough of subtlety.

That's when he saw it. The robes were unmistakable "Bruce..?"

"I saw her. The police are on their way."

"Then I'm going after her."

"Make sure it isn't just a diversion."

"I hear ya." Activating the wings, he flew down the alleyway which he had watched her disappear into.

Max had watched Terry's progress, followed, at what she believed was a discrete distance, ready to help him, curious as ever to watch him in action, fearful of the newly revealed assassin she had come in contact with not all that long ago.

The fight had moved to a back alley, Batman leading them as far as possible from where it began on the busy street side. Curare was on fine form. A chill crept through Max as she recognized Terry's lagging moves. She turned, looking for something to distract the assassin, only to bump into Dana. Max's eyes widened as she watched the other girl, transfixed on the faltering hero.

They watched with fear as the woman in robes took another swipe with her sword at Batman. He leapt, cart wheeling gracefully through the air to land on his feet. Curare easily closed the distance again. Her physical training easily matching his.

She swung again and he heard the suit rip, cold air reaching his chest. He had to keep her away from the crowd. He flipped again, avoiding another attack.

He had little to no room in the alleyways. She swung again. Seeing an opening, he dove at her, firing the boot's rockets. They both fell, her sliding beneath him on the concrete. Still, she held onto her blade, swiping, missing only because he dropped her, swooping away as she crashed into a brick wall.

On her feet in an instant, she searched for him in the night sky. He would not leave, not with so many innocents around. Catching sight of him in the corner of her vision, she waited.

Terry's agonized yell brought Max back to reality. They stood, frozen, as the figure of Batman dropped limply to the pavement. The assassin moved in for her kill.

"Terry..." Reacting in desperation, Max grabbed a trash can lid and threw it, Frisbee style. Dana gasped at her friend's actions.

The lid hit Curare, though not doing any damage. Robes fluttered around her body as she spun, ready to face her new adversary. Standing slowly, she nodded at Max, a show of recognition before disappearing around a building.

Max bolted to the writhing form on the ground. Dropping to her knees, she didn't notice the slowly growing pool of his blood until she was in it. Leaning over him, she placed her ear against his.

"He's down," Max couldn't believe how much she was shaking.

"I know. Keep him stable, help is on the way." Bruce's voice was just barely audible.

Terry was breathing in short gasps.

"How is he?" Dana startled Max as she crouched down beside them.

"Not good." Parting the torn edges of the suit, she cringed. The blade had cut deeply. The wound ran from under the red bat symbol on the left hand side of his chest to his waist on the right hand side. It was a clean cut, bleeding freely. "Come on, stay with me." She encouraged, sounding more like she was begging. His head turned towards her, the white eyes allowing her only a small clue as to the state he was in.

"Oh God," Dana had to turn for a second as she caught a good look. Then slipped out of her light, cotton jacket. Folding it up, she pressed it against him, trying to control the bleeding.

Terry felt completely helpless. He trusted them both, but.... His brain was clouding, he felt his blood pooling inside the suit, recognizing the symptoms as he began to slip into shock. He tried to stifle the hiss of pain as Dana applied pressure. He didn't think he was successful. He had heard Bruce say help was on the way, but who? He was growing too weak to care. Breathing was extremely painful. His chest burned, his stomach stung in a way he had never dreamed possible.

"Max..." He wasn't sure if he had actually spoken her name. He needed some kind of contact - something beyond their treatment of his injury.

"Stay still, the bleeding's slowing." She wished she could see his face, not the cold blackness that he wore.

"Terry...?" Dana couldn't stop herself. First hearing Max's call, now hearing his voice, she was sure.

He turned his head, as she reached to pull the cowl off, hoping he would be able to breathe more freely with it off. Needing to see.

Dana grabbed the edges near his throat and pulled it over his head. It was still a shock. His face was pale, his hair matted with sweat, his eyes dilated in a mixture of fear and acceptance. And it *was* Terry hungrily gulping fresh air.

"You're going into shock." Max leaned in close, trying to keep him calm with simple information.

"I know," he managed to croak out. Dana shifted closer, kneeling, she placed his head in her lap, pillowing him as Max held the jacket in place.


Whatever Barbara had expected to see when she rounded the corner, this scene was far from it. She understood the gravity of the situation when Bruce called her. They had all gone down in the line of duty before, but they had had back up; McGinnis didn't.

She had been called out to the disturbance at the movie theater, literally standing around the corner when she had received the call from Bruce. Who ever was closer he said, she unfortunately was.

Now, seeing him, with the two girls surrounding him, Barbara jogged over, controlling the fear she hadn't felt in years.

"McGinnis?" his blurry blue eyes shifting towards her was his only response. "How long?" she aimed the question at Max, unsure of the other girls' involvement, but well aware of her tender care of the fallen teen.

"Fifteen minutes, tops." Max replied, completely unsure of what was happening, if the Commissioner was supposed to be here.

Moving the sodden jacket aside, Barbara swore. It was bad and Terry was fading fast. Pressing a button on his belt, she waited for the familiar sound of the batmobile. It was not going to be an easy trip. None of the vehicles had been designed for injured passengers.

The car stopped almost touching Max, who didn't react, though the dark haired girl's eyes bulged. "Bring her back to the manor house." The Commissioner's instructions left no room for contradictions. Within minutes they had Terry in the car. It hadn't been easy. He was in shock, having lost a great deal of blood and was dangerously dehydrated. "You have a way there?" Barbara could always send the car back on remote.

"Yeah, we have a car." Max was beginning to clue in.

"Good, don't dawdle." Max nodded as Barbara climbed into the car and took off.



"Alright, Max, what the hell is going on?" Dana turned angry eyes towards her pink haired friend.

"Do you want me to drive?"

"No, I want...!"

"Just answer the question, then I'll fill you in on what I know."

"You drive." Dana knew she was too mad, too shocked, too scared to drive. "How long have you known?" The question was out of Dana's mouth before Max had closed her door.

"You remember when I was determined to discover who Batman was..?" Max glanced over at her passenger as she began the now familiar route to Wayne Manor.

"You've known since then? Why didn't you tell me? With all the problems Terry and I have been having..." Dana trailed off, staring out her window.

"I know how bad this sounds, but I was sworn to secrecy. Terry made me promise."

"Is this why you two have been spending so much time together?"

Max hadn't realized Dana had noticed. She should have known better. "Yes, it is. I've been doing research, hacking and stuff for him."

"You mean for Batman."

"Yeah," Max exhaled, "for Batman."

"What's his connection to Bruce Wayne?"

Max threw a look at her best friend. "Haven't you figured that out?"

"If I had, I wouldn't be asking you."

"Wayne was the original Batman." Dana's jaw hit the floor.

"How did Terry hook up with him?"

"Terry never told me the whole story. From what I understand, he found something illegal his father stumbled on before he died, went to tell Wayne, found Wayne's little secret, snuck back and stole the suit to avenge his father's death."

"That sounds like Terry alright." Dana continued to stare out the window, the scenery growing bleaker. "What about the Commish?"

"I don't know." Dana threw a fiery glance across the car. "I swear, I have no idea about the Commissioner. I know Terry has spoken to her a number of times, both as himself and as Batman."

"The woman who attacked him, you seemed like you knew her."

Max snorted. "Yeah, I know her. We've met before. I was snooping, wanted a bit more action after I discovered Terry's secret." She grunted in remembrance. "If it hadn't been for Batman, I wouldn't be here now."

They fell silent as Max drove through the gates that began closing as soon as the car was clear.


Max was out of the car before the engine had cut. Bursting through the doors with Dana on her heels, she literally skidded to a stop in front of Bruce, the Commissioner and another silver haired lady in a white doctors' coat.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Anytime, Bruce" The woman had a very deep, almost gruff voice. "I'll be back later to check on him."

"How is he?" Max blurted out.

"Very lucky is what he is." Throwing a glance towards Bruce. "Not unlike others I have known." She took a deep breath before facing the two girls again. "He'll need time, but he should make a full recovery."

"Can I see him?" Dana asked, feeling horribly out of place in this crowd.

"Of course," The doctor threw a sidelong glance towards Bruce, almost challenging him.

"Up the stairs, three doors down on the right hand side." Bruce directed Dana curtly.



Terry was aware as Dana entered his room. How many times he had fantasied about Dana knowing of his night life? He'd lost count long ago. Now, that dream had turned into a nightmare. The way she had looked at him, the betrayal he had seen in her eyes - he'd never forget that look, it would haunt him for years. He had imagined the perfect set up. Dinner, a late night somewhere secluded, maybe near the beach by the Manor, he'd tell her gently, give her time to absorb the implications.

Dropping half dead into her lap was a rather nasty way to discover the truth. Then to find out that Max had known for so long; he was sure Dana suspected something, but never that he was Batman, nor that Max had been involved for months.

"Dane," his voice was weak, but still, she faced him, unmoving. "I never meant to lie to you." She visibly swallowed. Terry closed his eyes, trying to fight through the pain and the darkness. "Dana, say something, please."

She blinked, a tear running down her impassive face. "I'm glad you're going to be okay." With that, she turned, leaving him hurting.