Dana woke slowly, finding herself incredibly uncomfortable. Rolling over, she just about fell off the cot she had been placed on. Propping herself up on an elbow, she willed herself to look around, the effects of the gas still clouding her vision, causing her to be unsteady. The single lightbulb that hung from the high ceiling did little to provide any light.

The room she was in was dry and cold. Musty didn't quite cover it. She shivered as she stood up, hugging herself in a vain attempt to keep warm and keep her wits. A quick survey of the room revealed no possible exits. It was maybe ten by ten, no windows, only a thick wooden door. Dana sighed. No matter how much pushing or shoving, the door refused to budge. Sitting back on the cot, the only thing in the room, resigning herself to the wait.

Terry would come for her, she was certain of that. She blinked, her body shuddering with sudden realization.

*

Terry had suited up as soon as he could tear himself away from the monitor. For a moment, as he flew across town in the Batmobile, he allowed his guard to drop. Max had found trouble before because of him, now Dana was in danger - all because of him, their association with him - Batman.

He was convinced this was a trap.

No matter how much Max tried, begged him, not to proceed, there was no way he could leave Dana. Wouldn't have been able to, even if she hadn't been his girlfriend.

But she was.

All the moving about was causing his stitches to alternatively itch and pull. He tried another deep breath; it hurt, hurt like hell to be completely honest. In many different aspects. He hadn't felt this guilty when Max had fallen under Spellbinder's VR. He had been angry then. Down right pissed off.

Now he was scared.

Not for his own welfare, he could take care of himself - or so he hoped. But Dana... she handled herself well with the boy in the sewers; he had felt such pride in her as she had forced the rats back, helping him in the process. If she had only known then. A smile tugged his lips. Maybe this just might work....

Leaving the car a few blocks away, Batman made his way towards the old building. It was in surprisingly good shape. The back side of the building was made of yellow brick, the only entrances being a few docking bays for trucks and a metal man door.

Clinging to a wall across the street, Terry took stock of the situation.

"Is there a way in from the roof?"

"There is a HVAC system you could access. That would leave you cramped and defenseless in the ductwork."

A frustrated sigh escaped him. "The doors are too obvious."

"Are they?" Terry frowned at the cryptic question.

"How about the docks? Can I get in under the doors?"

"The doors are electronically controlled." Max's voice sounded over the comline.

"So that's a no-go." Frustration was building within him, as was the pain from his stitches.

"There's a door near to HVAC system on the roof. " Max continued. " It'll take you down through a service stairwell."

"Now that's more like it." He glanced up, the setting sun glowing bright red/orange above the buildings. It was funny how he had begun to truly notice things over the past week.

"Remember, the storage rooms are approximately half way down each corridor."

Terry nodded absently, "I remember. Where will the stairwell put me?"

"Conveniently close to the centre of each level."

"Then maybe this isn't a good idea."

"Continue on with this." Bruce spoke up.

"Oh?" Terry waited, hoping Bruce was onto something.

"Like you said earlier. She probably figures you aren't dumb enough to try the easy route in."

"You two scare me." Terry heard the sound of Max closing her laptop.

"I'm going in." He said around a smirk. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck." Both voices echoed inside his cowl.

He climbed carefully up the old fire escape. It would be easiest to glide across the street from atop this building to the next, and the least likely for him to be seen. With a final glance at the darkening sky, Batman spread his arms, wings engaging just before he let himself fall over the edge of the roof.

Lady Luck was with him. He easily covered the distance, gliding on the air currents. The HVAC system stood out like humps on a camel's back across the roof, right in the middle of which was a cement square that contained the service door. Taking the lock picks from his belt, he figured the 'old fashioned way' was the quietest way. The door opened with a soft groan of unused hinges. Making sure the door closed silently behind him, Terry proceeded down the stairs, using the night vision option of the suit's visor. He moved slowly, making sure of his footfalls before committing. If he slipped now, it would be all over. The healing cut would hold up to a fair amount of stress, but not to something as sudden and violent as him falling down a flight of concrete stairs.

They suspected that Dana was in the third level storage room. It was the only one, of the five, that didn't have a window. *If* he was lucky he'd be able to get her out without a hitch. Though he knew that would be highly unlikely. Woorari was waiting for him, Dana's 'cell' would be monitored.

"Bruce?"

"I'm here." Terry had used that tone of voice again, like he had an idea brewing in his head.

"What would the consequences be if the Society were to find out I outsmarted another member?"

"I would assume the same as before."

"This is never going to end is it?"

"Don't think like that. It's self defeating. Bring Dana home, then we'll work out the specifics."

"I wonder if they know what she's up to?" It was more of a musing thought, but it sparked a some serious questions.

"Typically their code demands that they only attack those they are paid to."

"This just rings funny to me."

"It rings of revenge, not of a planned take down." Bruce began to type madly. "You might be onto something."

"You have an idea?" Terry was almost at the third floor.

"I might drop them a note."

"You can do that?"

"How do you think people hire assassins?" Terry smirked.

"I'm at the third floor entrance."

"Once you're through the door," Max began again, making sure she had her bearings correct. "You need to go left, you should pass four office type rooms before the metal door of the storage room."

"What are the office doors made of?"

"If these specs are right, glass."

"Great," Terry's hopes for an easy rescue dwindled. The locks flipped as Terry shifter the lock picks again.

"I'm going in." He pulled the door open slowly, thankfully without a sound. Reaching down, he activated his camouflage. In the long hallway, bare florescent lights flickered. It was just enough light to cast shadows. Hugging the wall, Terry tried to keep his shadow hidden behind him. He moved slowly, arms pressed against the cold wall. Staying as close to the wall as possible, he peered through the first glass door. The office was dark. Switching the visor, he scanned the room; empty.

Unconsciously he breathed a sigh of relief. One more glass doorway before the storage room. He wasn't overly concerned about the doors across the hallway, though he tried to look inside as he passed them, but from his perspective, he didn't have much of a chance of seeing inside.

He reached the wooden door almost too easily. He disengaged his camouflage, saving as much of the suit's power as he could. Again he used the lock picks. The door had a typical bolt type lock and a padlock. He had both open in under a minute.

Dana jumped off the cot, clearly startled as he slipped inside the room. Relief threatened to overwhelm her as soon as she saw who had entered the tiny room. She was in his arms in a second, hugging him tightly.

Terry tipped her head up with a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. She looked okay. Tired and stressed, but no injuries. Relief like he had never known coursed through him. He was fairly sure Woorari wouldn't harm Dana, but there was always the underlying fear.

"Shall we get out of here?" He whispered the question still holding her face tenderly.

She nodded, taking in his body language, knowing they weren't out of hot water just yet.

He peered out the door, holding Dana close, afraid if he let her go, he'd lose her again. The hallway was clear. Holding her hand, he took the same route back out, staying close to the wall, knowing they were in plain sight, knowing there was nothing he could do about it other than to stay alert.

Closing the door to the stairwell behind him, he switched to night vision again as he picked her up. It would be far safer to carry her up the stairs than to have her struggle in the dark behind him.

At the doorway, he placed her back on her feet. "This is too easy," he muttered, hearing an affirmative grunt on the other end of the link.

He opened the rooftop door into the glow of the fading sun on the horizon, it blinded him momentarily. Even with the visor's protection, going from complete darkness to light was effecting both their visions.

He thought there was the flutter behind a far HVAC system, he wasn't even sure if he saw it in the orange light. "Where's the fire escape?" He moved as if he was checking to be sure the door sealed behind him. Dana looked up at him, confused and slightly afraid.

"North side of the building."

Looking over Dana's head he could see the railing. "Behind you is a fire escape." He relayed Bruce's information. "I'll meet you on the ground."

Dana's breath caught, catching onto his underlying meaning. There was nothing she could do to help him and she knew it, but she didn't want to leave him either. "She's up here isn't she?" He nodded. "Be careful."

He smiled, despite his best efforts not to. To hear the tone of her voice, it gave him an honest reason to get this over with and get back home. They still had a lot to work out.

Standing on her toes, she placed a small kiss on his lips before making a run for the ladder.


As soon as Dana made her break, Woorari revealed herself, too close to where Terry was standing for his liking. She had used the HVAC systems, and his distraction with Dana to gain much needed ground on him.

He shuddered at the expression on her face. He was used to dealing with half mad supervillians, but this was much different. On her face was a look of pure maliciousness. She took a step closer, he took one back. She smiled and he realized his mistake. She jumped towards him, he jerked, but held his ground. Her smile vanished.

"You have to keep thinking, find her weak spot." Mentally Terry nodded at Bruce's advice.

She swung her simitar, slicing a portion of an HVAC system off. Batman leapt back out of the way. He looked up in time to see her launch at him. He grabbed her, tossing her into the concrete rooftop.

Jumping up, she cartwheeled over him. He dove to the ground, feeling the tip of the sword graze his back. Anger and fear warred within him. She leapt again, sword held close in front of her body. He twisted, managing to get a hold of her and throw her into one of the HVAC casings.

Watching her stand he felt the warmth trickle down his stomach. A different chill went down his spine.

She circled him, smiling as if she knew. Then attacked, low this time, punching his opened wound as she skirted passed. He dropped to his knees, fighting the pain.

While he was on his knees she lashed out. Fear turned to anger as he heard a rung snap on the ladder. He grabbed her arm, then swung intending to flip her. Instead he heard the unmistakable sound of bone breaking, her arm unable to withstand the stress of her attack, her weight, and his counter of it.

She screamed in pain, her sword skidding along the rooftop. Standing, he picked up the sword, pitching it with all his might at a far building. It shattered.

Another rung snapped, Dana screeched. Without a second look at his wounded enemy he dove over the edge.

Dana had landed in a heap on the ground when the last rusted rung had snapped, knocking the wind out of her.

"Dane?" He landed beside her

"I'm okay." she managed to cough out as her lungs began to accept air again.

"Ter...?" He was shaking as he helped her to her feet.

"It's over." He assured her. "I'm going to make sure of it."

Landing on the roof, he found no sign of Woorari. That didn't really surprise him.

"Come home." For some reason he startled at the voice in his cowl.

"Why?" Terry asked carefully, as he returned to Dana.

"You're temperature is dropping." Touching his stomach, he could feel the blood under the suit. He had managed to forget about it; that wasn't a good sign.

"On my way." He landed beside Dana again. With a shaking hand, he pressed the button on his belt that would bring to Batmobile to him on automatic. Bringing her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest, they waited for the car to arrive.