Chapter 7

He had always wanted his gang to stand for something more, for them to be more then some Jokerz who got high from stealing from an old man. He was proud to see that even without their 'fearless' leader there, they had stood up against all the odds. They had kept their standards high; they had not in one action disappointed Terry, not as a whole anyway. There were some individuals that had done some revolting things, such as Daniel. Terry watched them all closely to make sure nothing went wrong. And yet he couldn't help but think that they hadn't needed him before so why should they need him now. That wasn't to say however that he wasn't going to take his role as leader seriously, that was the only thing he had left.

Terry was on his way to the meeting he had assembled the night before. Inside they all took their sits but as their leader he remained standing. He was actually surprised at how easily Jeremy as well as the others had welcomed him back. They were actually seemed relieved to see their trusted friend back on their side. After the meeting Terry was worried about all the supplies they would need to acquire. As it was they barely had enough to last a week. It was true that Terry had with him a substantial amount of money but as always he would keep that hidden just in case something happened and he had leave. If they all didn't get jobs though they would have to resort to stealing their supplies. It wasn't as though he couldn't do it was more along the lines that he didn't want to meet up Kaile who had surely taken on the mantle after he left.

Many of them had quit school but they all knew that under the order of terry they would all be attending school. By the time winter break was over they were all enrolled in Hamilton High. They all did relatively well, and they teachers were surprised that Terry was actually passing his classes. It seemed as though he was setting an example for the others. The teachers didn't know what kind of relationship these new students had with Terry but he seemed to have a good influence over them. The teachers didn't have a problem with them but the teachers were another story altogether.

Terry was sitting in the cafeteria surrounded by the gang. Elizabeth who had decided to forget their quarrel although Terry hadn't was seated next to him. Terry could see Dana coming over to them with Max in tow. Since Dana had been away over the break he had never come around to officially breaking up wit her even though it was obvious. He decided upon seeing her that no time was better then to finally sever their relationship. Elizabeth just sat back knowing what was to come and hoping to get a good show.

THWACK. It took a second for Elizabeth to realize that she had just been slapped. She certainly hadn't been expecting that and just sat next to Terry shocked by the mere audacity of the idea. Terry stood up and everyone could tell that he was fuming. Everyone backed way a few paces, not wanting to get too close top what ever was about to happen.

In a about split second Terry's hand connected with Dana's wrist and he held his grip firmly. Terry' s menacing look in his eyes transformed Dana's look of defiance into one of pure fear.

"Don't you ever touch Elizabeth in any away ever again." He looked at Dana and when she didn't say anything, said a little angrier, "Do you hear me? We're through, so don't you ever come back near me again unless you have a death wish!" It was at this moment that he let go of Dana's wrist. She instinctively rubbed her wrist and looked over at Max who wore an expression he had never seen on her before, one of befuddlement.

Max walked a little closer to Terry and when she saw him acknowledge her she said, "Terry, what's with you, this isn't you. You've changed. It thought you were my friend. You never even called me during the break, and now you show up with these people. You don't even bother saying hi to me in the hallways. No one's at your house. Did you know that Ter, huh? Your family moved, so why are you are you still here!!" By the time she finished her tirade she was full-blown screaming.

Terry had chosen not to interrupt her for what he wanted to say, he wanted everyone to hear and he never wanted anyone t9o forget. He had also known that his family had moved with out as much as a good-bye but he didn't care anymore because he had a new family and at any rate he could take care of himself on his own. In an even voice he said to Max, "That wasn't me Max, you've never known the real me. Wit them I can finally begin to show my true self. You of all people should know that people don't always need their parents to survive, now when you have friends who are more then even family. You know that things aren't, as they seem. " He silently wondered for a second if he even had friends of the like that he had just spoken of. It didn't matter though Terry was prepared for all that could come his way. "I used to think that you were one of the people I could really count on, but today you've proved me wrong, I was never right with Dana, even she knew that, but she felt that she had to make a spectacle of it. She deserved what she got, and no one is ever with me, is going to take crap from that slut. Now the bell is about to ring and we should all be going home, oh and Max if you haven't noticed I haven't been going out at night and it's going to stay that way."

Neither Max nor anyone else had anything else to sat to that. They were just shocked to see the easygoing prankster whom had just a month ago been kissing Dana, now with another woman and as serious as hell would be to a sinner. Nor did anyone but Max understand his last statement. She turned around to leave, Dana in tow still looking terrified from her self inflicted ordeal.

Right before Max was out of hearing range he said to her, "Oh and Max don't try to find me, you never will."

Terry sat back down as he saw the crowd dispersing. He turned back to his gang and merely smiled. He knew why they had had expressions of befuddlement on their otherwise stoic faces; although they had seen Terry angry before, it had never reached the extent where he blew up like that. He had always been known for a fiery temper but after being away from it for so long the gang would need some time to get used to it once more. They would also need to pay attention to what were the things that made him tick.

Abruptly the final bell rang, signaling the departure of all the students and Terry and other stood up. They simply followed him through the hallways and down the stairs in silence for they knew that this was not a good time to talk. After all there was plenty of time to talk when they all arrived at their home. They did however stop by the local grade school to pick up the rest of them that weren't old enough to get home themselves. They grumbled and groaned about this since they felt that since they were old enough to steal and fight they should be allowed to wander home on their own, but Terry stood adamant by his decision.

Elizabeth leaned into Terry and whispered, "I love you," in his ear. Terry inwardly groaned at the statement fully realizing at that moment that he would never truly be able to reciprocate her feelings for him. Before he could reply he heard the gang start teasing him.

"Ooh, look Terry's got a girlfriend."

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then…"

"Hey how about a threesome?"

"Or four"

On that last note everyone couldn't help but burst out laughing, except for Terry who had a lot on his mind. Soon however, they were in front of their home. They stepped in and a Terry plopped down on the nearest sofa and let out a deep sigh. So much had been happening and although he should be feeling the tranquility that accompanies the thought of knowing that you're surrounding by those who care for you, all he felt was the dread that this wasn't going to last.

"Hey Cobra," Jeremy called over to Terry using the alias Terry had adopted when he started the gang for years ago, "just wanted to tell ya that I saw that jock, what's his name, oh yeah, Nelson saying he was going to pulverize ya on Monday during gym. You don't need top worry, we all know you'll show him what's' what. You don't have to hold back. "

'That's exactly it: I have to hold back. I am not going to let the past repeat itself.' Instead of voicing his true feeling, as he seldom did that, he said, "Oh, okay, but I'm not sure if Nelson's worth it."

"Listen man, you don't show him who's in charge now, then he'll do something stupid and then knowing you, you'll kill him. "

Terry chuckled and then said, "Yeah, whatever but that's on Monday, and this weekend I want to relax as much as possible." With that he got up and headed towards his room.

An hour later Elizabeth entered Terry's dimly lit room to find him under the cover listening to music. She walked towards his bed, and tapped his shoulder. Terry, caught off guard grabbed the stranger's arm and held it tightly. When he realized whom it was he let go and said sheepishly, "Juvie will do that to you."

After a few seconds Terry turned off the music and sat up gabbing a pen and paper.

"What's that for?" Elizabeth asked deciding to ignore the death grip he had had her in seconds before.

"I have to start making plans, and as much as I don't want to steal we have to."

"Why? You always said that the thrill of being in a gang was when you got to steal something."

"I still feel that way, it's just that I don't want to meet up with Gotham's newest vigilante."

"What, you don't think you can beat her?"

He sent a glare in her direction that clearly told her that that wasn't what he feared.

"Well then what is it?" Elizabeth asked with an air of impatience.

"Nothing. Just drop it."

"Fine, whatever, but he's afraid of you."

"What?" Terry asked with skepticism weighing heavily on his voice.

"Well think about it, you could ruin him and whoever is close to him, just by telling people who Batman is."

"Listen, Liz I have to get going with these plans so you know I'll see you tomorrow."

" 'Kay, see ya."

Terry lied back down on his bed and felt relieved once again that he was alone. He tried to think of a good plan that could be accomplished quickly but all of his thoughts reverted to Max. He couldn't forget the look of shock she had possessed when he told her how he really felt. Max had always been a friend to Terry and Batman, but he she had never been friends with Cobra. Therefore she didn't really know him. He felt it was such a great pity that she would never be able to fully accept him. After all, she had shot him looks of disgust when he had returned from his sentence at juvie. It had taken weeks for her to even say hello to him again and even then it had only been because she thought he had been on the straight and narrow. He had been and it was quickly driving him insane. When it had started Terry hadn't been looking to start a gang, he wanted a family. He would get one, even if that meant living in an abandoned apartment. He knew that most gang members never made their membership known; always living like the perfect student, but Terry was different he had formed his new family so that he wouldn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't. As the leader he was always lenient and let it be a democracy when it came to things like deciding the rules. That way no one would ever feel the need to leave. No one ever had, well except Terry, a fact that still made him feel guilty.

He had felt so worthless and wound up for deserting his family, but more so at the thought that he himself had abandoned once more. Then he met Bruce and was given a way to exert all of his energy. He had been grateful for it at the time but then he thought how much of a loser he must have been that he needed to be Batman to feel good. Gliding over Gotham at night had slowly been killing him. It had started out, as a way to avenge his father's death but soon became torture that came in the form of a bat. He began to think that it wouldn't have mattered to his father; nothing he had ever done was good enough, he was and would always be seen as worthless, no matter what he did. One thing was for sure; Terry was tired of being hated while Gotham loved Batman.

Thinking at the time that he would run away from it all, he met up once more with Ten. Soon she had been told his nightly identity, so there weren't any real secrets between them. Melanie had been everything he had yearned for rolled into one beautiful sexy bundle. He could still remember their first night together, and then how hurt he had been when he found out that she was being arrested as Ten. Bruce had always thought that it was that Terry had been torn between good and evil, and in a way he was right…in a way. He would have runaway with her, had she not gotten caught. When she was later released he saw another side of her, she didn't feel the thrill when she was out with her family. All she felt was guilt because she knew that what she was doing was wrong and wanted so desperately to be 'good'. He knew then that they, as a couple would never work, but that as friends they were absolutely great. And then she was gone. It had hurt more then when his own father had died. He knew that that just wasn't right. His father should have meant more to Terry then some girl, even if that girl had meant the world to him and had known him better then anyone else. However, Terry's father and him had never really known each other. They would never have really understood each other. Melanie and him had known every detail about each other, and had never been ashamed of their faults when with each other. She had made everything bearable, and now once again he would probably end up alone, without Melanie around to help him pick up the pieces.

a.n. after three reviews i will update, hope you enjoyed this installation

-enemesis rogue

-sorry for all the mistakes, my spellcheck is not working properly, as soon as I can I will repost these chapters without these mistakes.