It had taken time, more time than she had intended. She had been warned about the dark girl with strangely coloured hair, but the second girl was new. Finding that girl had proved difficult. The usual search routes down, or more likely jammed by Batman while he recovered.

Her Society was unaware of her location, believing she was on a leave of mourning, but she was not one to sit idle. Curare was the best and twice Batman had defeated her. Her family would not stand for such interference. They had asked her, she had gladly accepted.

She knew she had hurt him, severely. There had been no Batman sightings since the incident in the alley. She had to draw him out, now, while he was still weak.

Hiding in the shrubs behind the large, upper class house, she waited. No one had been inside when she arrived several hours ago. She had expected the girl and her father to be home. It was growing late, almost 11 pm. The night was fairly warm, but breezy, allowing her to be able to move without fear of drawing attention.

Patience had never been her strong point, yet today she was content to wait.

She didn't hear them arrive. The black form carrying the girl caught her attention as he landed gently in the far reaches of the yard, out of sight of the house and concealed by the foliage. It didn't take much for her to realize the relationship between the Batman and this petite girl. After setting her down on her feet, they embraced tenderly before he backed away, then disappeared into the night sky again.


Dana watched him take off, knowing he was heading back to the mansion for a good night's rest. He was recovering fast, and their needed conversation had put them both at ease. She had missed him, missed being with him. Maybe now she would be included, be able to spend more time with him, get to know him again. If nothing else, there would be no more secrets; well, fewer secrets. She smiled, turning back to the house. By the time she noticed the fine, green mist, it was too late.


*****


His cell phone ringing struck him as odd. Not because it was ringing, but because he was half asleep on his bed at Bruce's. No one other than Bruce called him on that phone. Frowning he reached for it off the night table.

"Yeah?"

"Terry, have you seen Dana?"

"Not since last night, why?" Waking up fully, he sat up, not wanting to acknowledge the sinking feeling that Max's panicked tone caused.

"She never showed up at school. There's no answer at her house. I'm heading over there now."

Terry glanced at his watch. 4:30 in the afternoon. "I'll meet you there." Clicking it off, he threw the covers off, grunting as he swung off the bed. He had ripped a stitch open last night helping the woman. Bruce hadn't said a word as he replaced the stitch, but Terry was more than paying for it now.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled up at the Tan residence, spotting a very agitated Max standing at the corner.

"Is anyone home?"

Max shook her head, "No, but Mr Tan wouldn't be home from work yet."

"Okay, lets go check things out."

Leading Max into the backyard, Terry headed to Dana's favorite spot. Looking around the gazebo, neither of them could find any sign of someone having spent time inside. Turning, he moved around the backyard. Nothing. Hearing a car door slam, he grabbed Max, dragging her to the corner where he had dropped Dana off in the night before. In his rush, he almost tripped as his foot slid on something hard and smooth. Reaching down, careful to stay out of sight of the house, he picked up the spent gas bomb, knowing instantly what it was.

Looking around, something fluttering on a branch caught his eye. Stepping over to it, he pulled the piece of fabric of the limb. It was a bright pink colour with a metallic glow, not one of Dana's usual choices. He stuffed it in his pocket.

"Come on." He turned to drag Max back out to the street.

"What is that?" She took it from Terry's fingers, turning it over and over.

"A gas bomb." She handed it straight back to him. "She must have been waiting here last night, took Dana just after I left."

"Who?"

"Woorari." Max's eyes grew wide as that information set in. "I'm heading back, you want me to drop you off?" Terry asked leading her around to his bike.

"Let me come with you."

"Max," Terry half sighed, but gave up. All of them researching would help him find Dana all the sooner. Bottling his emotions, he climbed onto his motorcycle, waiting for Max to mount and settle.


Entering the mansion, Terry strode down to the cave with Max trailing not far behind. Bruce watched the two, knowing from Terry's posture that something was very wrong.

"Dana's missing," Terry informed his mentor in a deadpan tone. dropping the orb and the material in Bruce's hand, Terry was about to open his mouth when Bruce spoke up.

"I'm familiar with this," he rubbed his thumb over the smooth cloth. "I remember when this was the height of fashion."

"Eugh," Max shuddered, causing both guys to smile briefly.

"The factory is in the rundown section of town."

"In other words it's a trap." Max said matter-of-factly as she leaned against the console.

"Yes."

"Can you call up an aerial of the area, and a floor plan for the building?" Terry leaned on the chair, watching as Bruce searched for the information he had requested.

"You can't possible be considering...?" Max stopped as Terry looked at her. "You are, aren't you?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"But...?" A look of panic crossed her features. "Can't you call in the cops for this one?"

"She would hear their approach." Terry leaned in closer, studying the layout on the monitor.

"If I come in from the east, there don't seem to be any windows on that side of the building."

"She'll more than likely have it rigged."

"All I wanna do is get Dana out of there."

Bruce sat back, studying his protege for a moment. He sighed, recognizing the look, the deeply buried emotions, the forced professionalism. Again, an odd sense of pride rose within him. The fates had blessed him with something he never believed he would have. As much as he had cared for the others, he had more of a repertoire with Terry, more of a kinship. The others had said he had chosen well for the successor to the mantle. Bruce knew Terry had chosen him. Maybe that was the difference. Dick and Tim had been too young, had no choice. Terry willingly came, eagerly, no matter what, he was willing to sacrifice himself and his time. Now it was time to give some of that back. He had to be sure they both returned safely.