A/N Sorry it took me so long to add, but my computer crashed and I had to start from scratch. Hopefully I will be able to add more consistently from now on. Also thanks to all that reviewed. I am greatly appreciative that you took the time. Thank you, and I hope you all like this installment.
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Barbara and Dinah sat there silently both thinking about the story Reese had told them.
D: What are we going to do if what he says is true?
B: I don't know. I can't believe that Bruce is back in town and knows our secret.
Suddenly Reese emerged from his room with the phone in his hand. Before Barbara could say anything Reese stated calmly: It wasn't my mom it was Helena.
B: What? Where is she? Why didn't you let me talk to her?
R: I don't know where she is, and she wouldn't talk to you.
B: Great, this is just great.
R: Who is Batman and the Joker?
B: It's a long and complicated story.
R: Well I have plenty of time.
B: Fine. Batman was a vigilante here in Gotham, I was his protégé known as Batgirl. The Joker was his arch rival. One night the Joker took it to the extreme and shot me confining me to this chair.
R: Okay I am sorry you got hurt, but what does this have to do with Helena.
B: Well that same night he sent one of his men and killed Helena's mother in front of her. Batman is her father, but he left town before finding out about Helena. So I took her in, trained her, and now she is Huntress.
R: He never came back?
B: Well if what you say is true, he did comeback.
R: Yeah I guess.
Suddenly the phone still in Reese's hand started to ring for the second time.
R: Hello?
H: They still there?
R: Yeah, and?
H: And I thought about it, and I will talk to her.
Reese walked to Oracle and handed her the phone. Barbara grabbed the phone and brought it to her ear.
B: Helena?
H: Yeah.
B: Are you okay?
H: Yeah, I am just peachy.
B: Don't be sarcastic, this is serious.
H: Why, why does this have to be serious?
B: Why, because you ran away, you didn't tell me Batman was back, that he knows who you are, that Joker is coming back. Do you want me to continue? Because I could.
The anger in Barbara's voice shook the room that they were sitting in.
Helena getting equally upset shouted: What? What did you want me to do? Come to you, cry on your shoulder and tell you my long lost father was back, that the man that killed my mom, paralyzed my best friend was coming back, and that the nightmares had started again.
All of the anger left Barbara's brow as she listened to the girl's outburst.
B: Helena you don't always have to be so strong. It is okay to come to someone when you are hurt, scared or even confused.
Barbara listened as Helena started to cry on the other side of the phone.
B: Sweetheart tell me where you are and I will come and get you. We can work through this.
H: No, no I don't want to come back. I want to be alone.
B: If you wanted to be alone, you wouldn't have called back.
H: Okay, so I don't want to be alone, but I don't want to talk about it either.
B: Okay that is fine, just tell me where you are?
H: I can't I have to figure this out for myself.
B: Figure what out? We have to do this together, just let us help you.
H: Sorry, Barbara but I have to do this solo.
B: Helena? Helena!?
The only answer Barbara received was the click of the other phone hanging up.
D: She hang up?
B: Yeah, she didn't tell me where she is.
D: Well what are we going to do?
B: Talk to Alfred see if he has heard anything, tap into Reese's phone records find out where the hell Helena is.
R: Hey that is illegal.
B: So what? If the Joker got out and he somehow finds out who she is, he will kill her. Are you willing to let a stupid law get in the way?
R: No I guess not.
B: Good, Dinah lets go. Reese if you hear anymore about the Joker or Helena you contact us right away,
R: Yeah, sure.
The two women left the apartment, and went back to the tower, the anger and fear evident in Barbara.
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The two went back into the computers, Barbara hadn't spoken a word. She was so angry with Helena and Bruce, if it was him, for putting her in this situation.
D: Do you want me to call Alfred, well you look up Reese's phone records?
B: Yes, that would be great.
Barbara went to the computers and started typing away as Dinah moved to the phone and dialed Alfred's number. The phone was answered after the second ring. Dinah quickly asked Alfred to come to the tower. After they said their goodbyes she hung up the phone and looked to Barbara.
D: He is on the way.
B: Good.
D: Have you found anything.
B: Well I have found his records now I just have to… There she called from a motel in, wow she called from Lakewood.
D: Why is Lakewood wow worthy, I have never even heard of it?
B: It's wow worthy because it is at least seven hours away.
D: Wow, so what do we do now?
B: Well, I guess I could make a phone call.
D: What do you mean?
B: Well we have to see if she is still there and then if she is we have to get her to either come back or stay there until one of us can pick her up.
Barbara turned back towards her computers and typed in a few numbers and listened as the phone started to ring.
"Hello," a groggy male's voice answered.
B: Hello, this is the New Gotham Police and we were wondering if a female brunette, early twenties, had checked into your motel earlier tonight.
Man: Yeah we had a female check in that fit's that description.
B: Great can we get her room number.
M: Sure, but that won't help, she checked out about a half an hour ago.
B: Do you know what direction she was heading in?
M: No, she wasn't in the best of moods.
B: Okay thank you for your time.
Barbara disconnected the phone call and turned to Dinah.
D: Well, not to sound redundant, but what do we do now?
B: Find everything we can about the Joker and hope that Helena will come back.
Dinah looked at Barbara and then walked over to another computer.
D: Okay I will look to see if there was a pattern in any of the crime sprees lately.
B: And I will look to see when the Joker broke out, and if there has been any site of Bruce Wayne.
Barbara and Dinah typed away at the computers trying to find evidence that Bruce Wayne had come into any contact with part of New Gotham. Both were so engrossed in there work that they never even noticed that Alfred was standing right behind them.
A: You wanted me to come?
Barbara jumped as she turned her chair around to face her trusted friend.
B: Yes, Alfred I have some questions for you.
A: Okay, Miss Barbara.
B: I have heard from a few people that Bruce Wayne is back in town, have you heard anything?
A: Yes, I have.
B: What? What have you heard?
A: Well, Master Wayne returned a month ago. He has been living down in the bat cave. And before you ask, he told me that I was not to tell anyone of his return so that he could scope everything out. So, he started going back out and saw Huntress, he asked what I knew, and so I told him.
B: What? I can't believe this. Not only did you not tell us that Bruce was back, but you also told him about his daughter. I can't believe you Alfred.
A: Miss Barbara, shouldn't you be more worried about the return of the Joker, and Miss Helena and not about Master Wayne.
B: I need to speak to him right now. Where the hell is he?
"I am right here Barbara." Barbara turned to find the man bearing the familiar voice walking towards her from the shadows.
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A/N sorry for posting the first chapter twice, I am not use to this format in posting, hopefully that will not happen again. Thank you for your patience.
Cinna