Batman Return of the Dark Nights

Written by: Panthera

Disclaimer: The characters within this story belong to DC Comics and Warner Brothers I have just borrowed them for a while. No harm is meant I will return them unharmed when I'm finished the only character contained within that is not DC is that of Zanah she is an original character created by me and my friend.  Now, on with the story.

Chapter Seven

That night at Wayne Manor…

Zanah followed Dick into the lounge and watched as he opened a wood cabinet on the wall. He pulled out two pool cues and set up the table. "Do you want to break," he asked,

"No you go ahead."

Dick nodded put the cue ball down on the table and lifting the cue he leaned over the table and stuck the ball. The cue ball hit the others on the table and broke them up sinking the two and four. "I guess I'm solids," he said as he examined the table and took aim at the six. Taking it off the table.

"I take it you've played this game," she said with a grin.

"Yep," he replied as he took aim again breaking up the balls again ending his turn.

Zanah looked at the table and sighed he had left her with no easy shots but there was one opening. Leaning across the table resting a leg on the edge she reached at an odd angle and took aim at the eleven. Dick watched stunned as she sunk the shot. He was amazed by her behavior and a drawn in undeniably. Zanah lowered herself back to the floor and circled the table walking past him. "What's the matter Dick? You act like you've never seen someone else play pool before," she said with a smirk as she took another shot and sank the twelve. She continued her turn clearing off two more of her balls before ending her turn.  

"I don't know too many people who could have made that," he replied studying the table for his best shot.

Across Town…

Bruce Wayne knocked on the door to Julie's apartment and waited patiently for her to answer. When the door opened she looked at him studying his face trying to determine how he was. "I'm sorry about yesterday," he said gently.

"I know, and I'm sorry I got do upset," she replied allowing him to step in side.

"Don't be, I should have told you about her sooner."

"Are there any other ex-girlfriends I should know about who might show up on my door step in a jealous rage," Julie asked with a laugh as she moved into the dinning room. She was clearly nervous by the whole situation. He could tell because she was ringing her hands.

"Not that I can think of. Miss Kyle is unique," Bruce replied grabbing hold of her hand to stop her.

"How so?"

"She's the only one that things didn't end on friendly terms."

"What happened?"

Bruce sat silently contemplating the best way to explain how his relationship had come to a close without divulging information that would expose his other half. "We had a disagreement in opinion and then she vanished with out a trace."

"Let me guess, she wanted the fairytale and you couldn't give it to her at the time," Julie said with a grin.

"No, actually it was the other way around. I offered her the fairytale and she refused it."

"I'm sorry Bruce…" Julie began.

"Don't be. Lets eat."

Julie nodded and the two sat down at the table to eat breakfast.    

Back at the Loft…

Selina looked over at the alarm clock and contemplated getting up. Things so far had not gone the way she had hope they would. Bruce was angry with her Catwoman had struck again and despite the satisfaction it was supposed to give her the act had left her feeling worse than before. Perhaps the most irritating fact of all was that her thoughts despite her anger kept running back to the charity ball and her reason for going. Damn. Why can't I let this go? After the way he treated me all I can think about is that those creeps will probably try again. "To hell with him," Selina swore in rage as she rolled over pulled her blanket back over her head before going back to sleep.  

Daggett's Office…

Hagen sat in the chair in front of Daggett's desk staring at the picture.

"I need her alive Hagen. Bring her in."

"Yes sir, consider it done." Hagen said and he left.

"Once he brings her in get rid of him and follow her home." Daggett said to the man who entered his office once Hagen was gone.

"Yes sir."

*                                                                    *                                                      *

At the Loft…

Selina woke again a little after noon and got dressed making plans to head into the police station. She was certain the failed attempt to eliminate Gordon and Bruce Wayne would not go over well and that they were far from safe. Selina intended to make a trip to the police station so she could speak with the two thugs from the party.

At Wayne Manor…

Bruce sat on the couch in the lounge and was listening to the news reports go on about Gotham's troubles in the advent of Batman's death. It pained him deeply to think of the suffering. He wanted to be free of the past to make a complete break from it, to bury it and never dredge it up again. But that desire seemed a lost cause. The ashes of that fire had been stirred up by Selina's reappearance and been sparked back to full life. It seemed now the idea of retiring was a fools dream. "Why won't the past stay where it belongs," he sighed as dick walked in the room.

"Bruce are you okay," Dick asked, his friend concerned.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"You seem out of it."

"I've just got a lot on my mind," Bruce explained.

"I know. How are you mending?"

"Fine, I'll be back to my old self in no time."

"Do you know when you'll be going back to the night shift?"

"That's one of the things I need to think about. Part of me wants to not go back, but then I hear what's going on out there and I wonder if I can."

"Bruce, it's who you are. You can't be free of it. Every time you hear about something like this you'll regret not being there to try and stop it. Just like I do."

"But who made us the Guardians of the city. Why should we have to carry that burden?"

"Nobody made us this way we chose it."

"Can't we choose to end it as well?"

"Yes. But do you really want to," Dick said before he turned and left.

Bruce sighed again as his thoughts shifted track to the issue that continued to weigh heavily on him, Selina. As pressing as the issues of Gotham were he couldn't escape from her even now.  Why was she back? Her words from the other day still echoed in his mind 'Give me one good reason why I should tell you.' Was she telling the truth the other night did she come back for me or does she have some other purpose beyond the Jade-Cat? Is she my friend or enemy? Bruce closed his eyes and rubbed his temples quickly getting a headache.

"Master Bruce are you all right sir," Alfred asked.

"Not really, old friend I'm so confused."

"Talk to her."

"I wasn't referring to Miss Kyle."

"I believe that she is troubling you more than the city."

"You're wrong."

" No sir, I believe it is you who is mistaken. Talk to her."

"I can't. I don't know what I feel."

"I think you do."

"I don't even know where to find her."

Mean while across town at the police station…

Selina raked her fingers through her bangs nervously tucking them behind her ear as she walked into the station. She moved towards the main desk and stood in line waiting for her turn to speak to one of the officers behind the desk. Her turn came sooner than expected and a young man stood staring at her.

"How may I help you miss," he asked.

"I'm here to see the bad boys who crashed Mr. Wayne's party the other night," she replied with a bright grin.

"I'm sorry miss they're not here."

"Really?"

"Yes, they were bailed out almost as quickly as they were arrested."

"You wouldn't happen to know where I could find them would you?"

"I'm not allowed to give out that kind of information."

"Oh, come on couldn't you do me a favor and slip me an address or maybe even just a phone number," she said sweetly. She batted her blue eyes pleadingly and put her hand down on his.

"I don't know I really shouldn't. What do you want it for," he replied weakly clearly about to give her what she wanted.

"One of them was my ex-boyfriend he owes me some money you'd be helping me out. Don't worry it would be our little secret, and I'd be ever so greatful," she whispered her hand now at his face running her index finger down his face gently.

"I suppose I could get that for you. Follow me," he said after a brief pause to recover.

Selina followed the young officer over to an empty desk and took a seat as he pulled up the computer files on the two men. He scribbled down a phone number.

"Could you give me an address please?"

 "I really shouldn't."

"Oh please it would mean so much to me and I would owe you a favor," she whispered giving him a look that suggested she meant a kiss and perhaps more.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt anything," he whispered and he added a couple of addresses to the piece of paper.

"Thanks," she said and she rose from her chair and headed for the door.

"About that favor," he said following after her.

 "Don't worry a friend of mine will take care of it," she whispered and she kissed him briefly just to make him feel he wasn't completely cheated. "Good-bye officer Lowery."

"Good-bye miss," he stumbled over the words and Selina walked out of the station. She smirked please that had been much too easy, she thought to herself as she got in her car and headed off for the first of the two addresses.

A half an hour later Selina pulled up at the second address and climbed out of her car. She took a look about and quickly spotted the two men from the Charity Ball. She took a breath and knocked on the front door. A few moments later a man opened the door.

"Hello, I must have the wrong house," she said sweetly.

"Well, hello gorgeous I don't believe we've met," He said and he pulled her in the door closing it behind him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close so that there bodies were touching.

"No, we haven't," she said allowing herself to be lead further into the house.

"I don't have much time sweet thing so we'll have to be quick."

"I couldn't agree more," she said coldly. Suddenly, Selina lashed out kneeing him in the groin. He doubled over in pain and she stood staring at the second man. "What was the back up plan if your attempt on Gordon and Wayne failed?"

"Who are you," squeaked the second man.

"Answer the question," she said cruelly as she stepped over the crumpled form.

"I don't know."

Selina kicked him in the face. "Answer me."

"I'm telling you I don't know," he snapped.

"No louder than a whisper, it wouldn't do to have anyone around call the cops," she said. Selina punched him in the midsection and he doubled over coughing. "Now answer the question."

"We're dead if we tell you."

"You're dead if you don't," she said and she threw him against the wall. When the first goon tried to attack her she lashed out with the heel of her shoe kicking him in the midsection. The man, whom she held against the wall, squirmed trying to get loose. She grabbed him by the shoulders and beet his head against the wall. "Talk!"

"We can't lady."

She hit him in the face breaking his nose. "That's one bone there are two hundred and six bones in the human body we have about five minutes before someone decides to call the cops. Do you want to find out how many of them I can break in that short time frame," she asked.  

"Lady please."

She grabbed him by the arm breaking it as his accomplice picked himself up off the ground again. "The back up plan what is it?"

"Gordon's office tomorrow night a team is going in to assassinate him. They're going to make it look like a drive by shooting."

"Bobby!"

"She broke my arm man. She's crazier than the boss."

"Who is the boss?"

"Don't know we've never seen him."

"Thank you boys so much," she whispered and then she turned and left climbing back into her car she drove home.

Once home Selina picked up the phone and called Bruce.

"Hello," Alfred said in greeting.

"Alfred can you out Bruce on the phone I need to talk to him. It's important."

"Of course Miss Kyle."

"Thank you," Selina whispered and as silence hung in the air she wrapped the phone cord around her finger.

"Hello," Bruce said a little upset.

"Bruce I'm sorry to disturb you but I wanted to warn you that our friends from the party are going to try to kill Gordon tomorrow night."

"Selina it's a little soon. How do you know this anyway?"

"I talked to the two goons from the party they said who ever hired them is going to try again tomorrow night."

"Why are you telling me this I thought after last night I'd made it clear I want nothing more to do with you?"

"Bruce Gotham is in trouble."

"You think I don't know that the city is falling down around my ears."

"Look your friends life is in danger."

"Batman is dead, Selina."

"In his absence his city and those he cares about are all going to die."

"Enough Selina I have to go."

"Bruce listen to me who ever it is that wants you dead will try again. They are going to have Gordon murdered if you don't do something," Selina snapped and she hung up the phone.

Damn him, why is he being so difficult. I'm trying to protect him and he won't listen. If he won't do anything for Gordon I guess I'll have to leave it up to Catwoman. I just hope she's in a better mood or she may leave them both to hang.

At Wayne Manor…

Bruce sat with Julie discussing security over dinner.

"Bruce is it really necessary to have me followed everywhere?"

"Yes. Whoever hired those guys at the party could try again or they could go after you to get to me."

"Bruce it's sweet that you're worried about me but I don't know if I can deal with this. I feel like a bug in a bell jar."

"Things will quiet down eventually. For now I just want to discourage any further attacks."

"Okay I suppose I can live with that."

"Good, I don't want anything to happen to you." 

"Do you really think they'll try again," Julie asked nervously.

"No. I think that the Commissioner and I are safe, I'm just being careful," Bruce replied before the two fell into a comfortable silence finishing their dinner.

Else Where later that night…

Selina was walking down the street trying to clear her head. She heard a struggle and moved in its direction. When she reached a blind ally she spotted Zanah, the young woman from the Charity ball, in the midst of a fight with several thugs. Selina stood to the shadows and watched as the bold and strong blonde took down the gang with little fuss. She grinned and watched Zanah with the approval the girl was defiantly someone she could get to like. She was loud spontaneous and could take care of herself all qualities Selina admired. Yes, she liked the mysterious Zanah already.

Zanah sighed and moved back towards her bike. She turned and road back to Wayne Manor tired and troubled. If those two goons were Daggett's men like she believed it wouldn't be long before he was on her trail again. Which meant it wouldn't be long before she had to hit the streets again. This thought upset her a bit she had gotten used to sleeping in a bed and having companionship again, things you couldn't find on the streets. As she pulled in through the gates and rode towards the manor Zanah stared at the house unable to believe she had gone from the dirty streets to living here, at Wayne manor. As she stepped into the house Dick met her.

"You're back," Dick said surprised to see her. She had never really said that she would stay so finding her gone earlier he had suspected she had left.

"Yes. I'm not ready to leave yet. It's been a while since I was able to relax."

"You will be leaving then?"

"Eventually. A time will come when someone will come looking for me and when that happens I'll have to be gone."

"Why? What are you running from?"

"It's better for everyone involved if I don't say."

"When will you be leaving?"

"Soon."

"Where will you go?"

"I don't know."

"Zanah…"

"Dick trust me I'm the last person you want in this house right now," Zanah said as she moved her focus to the floor. If Daggett finds out I'm here there's no telling what he'll do. The sooner I get out of here the safer it is for everyone, Zanah told herself.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing … I'm tired I'll see you later," she said before she moved upstairs to her room.

Dick stood at the bottom of the steps trying to figure out what was going on. Zanah was clearly upset but he didn't have a clue why.