CHAPTER 6

Danielle and Gibson were walking together, holding hands, on their back to Danielle's apartment. Danielle couldn't stop looking down at the engagement ring that Gibson had given her. She absolutely loved the ring. Nothing could bring her down from her emotional high that she was experiencing that moment. She was the happiest woman in the world.

"I will gladly take over for you tonight at the bar, if you would like?" Gibson offered.

"That's alright, I think I can handle it," Danielle said cheerfully. "Before I prepare to open the bar, I want to show everyone in the clock tower my ring."

A fire truck raced past the two of them, with it's siren and horn blazing. "Wow, I wonder what's going on." Gibson said.

They watched the fire truck drive down a few feet past them before stopping in front of another parked fire truck. A home complex of apartments were on fire. The flames were shooting high into the sky. Horror came over Danielle when she realized that her apartment was in that complex that was burning down to the ground. "Oh my god, that's my home!"

The two of them ran as close to the action as they were allowed by the yellow tape. "My home!" Danielle cried. "All my stuff… is gone!"

Gibson brought Danielle into his arms and embraced her as she cried on his shoulder. Gibson could not believe that something like this could happen at such a bad time. They had just gotten engaged and now everything Danielle owned and her home was destroyed.

* * * *

Barbara rolled her wheelchair into Alfred's room. He had just been taken out of the recovery room and put into his room. Alfred lay there in his cot peacefully. An oxygen mask covered his nose and mouth. He was connected to a heart monitor. Blood was being pumped into him through his lower arm. Barbara moved up to the side of his cot.

Alfred's eyes fluttered open and his head slightly tilted in Barbara. "Miss. Barbara," He said, with his voice barley audible.

Barbara smiled. "How are you feeling, Alfred?"

"I've been better, Miss Barbara," He replied. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Alfred," Barbara said. "I just need to know who did this to you?"

"It was that Raven character," Alfred said. "She's after Miss Helena."

"I had a feeling it was her. You rest up now, you'll be safe here. Don't worry about Helena. I'll make sure she is safe."

Alfred smiled faintly before closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep.

* * * *

Helena, Reese, and Dinah were helping Richard clean up and throw away the destroyed computers. "It looks like Barbara won't be able to communicate with us for awhile, not to mention also being out of the loop of knowing what is going on in New Gotham."

"When Barbara returns, I'll head out to a Radio Shack and pick up a police scanner. It's kind of limited, but it'll have to do until we can build replace Delphi." Richard replied.

"Helena!"

Helena turned around to see Gibson and Danielle enter the clock tower. From the look on Danielle's face, something was terribly wrong. "Danielle, what's wrong?"

"My apartment complex burned down. I've lost everything," Danielle muttered.

"I'm so sorry, Danielle." Helena walked up to Helena and gave her hug.

Gibson saw the mess on the platform. "What happened here?"

"We're not sure, but we think Raven has come looking for me again. Whoever it is, he or she means business. She destroyed all our computers, including Delphi, destroyed our security defenses, and attacked Alfred. Alfred was taken to the hospital and Barbara is there right now with him."

"That bitch! She burned down my complex, I know it!" Danielle said bursting out in anger.

"Calm down, Danielle!" Richard replied. "We will get her. Let's not loose our heads over this. We've got to remain calm and collected if we want to beat her."

Danielle nodded in agreement. "I'm sorry, I was having such a good day until now."

Helena looked down and saw the ring on Danielle's finger. "Is that a ring I see on your finger?"

Danielle smiled, as a lit bit of the joy she had felt earlier in the day began to return. "Yes it is." Danielle gave Helena her hand and showed her the diamond ring. "Gibson and I are engaged."

"Engaged! That's wonderful!" Dinah said excitedly.

"That is wonderful! I'm so happy for you two!" Helena said looking at both of them.

Barbara came rolling into the hideout in her wheelchair. Richard ran to her side from the platform. "How's Alfred doing?"

"He's going to pull through," Barbara replied. "It is as we feared, Raven is back."

"She is really making a statement. We think she is also responsible for burning down Danielle's home," Richard said.

"Thank goodness that you are safe. If you were at your apartment, she may have tried to kill you to. She has become more dangerous than ever. She is determined to bring this conflict to and end."