Bruce and Andrea waited outside their daughter's door. After going to the
hotel to have Andrea's bags sent to his home they found themselves late.
Bruce was sure that Mary was having a fit, but Andrea said that Mary could
keep her head. Mary opened the door and was relieved that they had finally
arrived. As they entered Matt bounded up to them and Andrea gave him a kiss
on the cheek.
"Ooooo, grandma that's disgusting. Matt howled. Bruce smiled at the boy's reaction. Matt looked at Bruce rubbing his cheek like he had acid on it and then was gone.
As they moved into the house Mary announced, "Max will be coming over to watch Matt tonight. She seemed very helpful about it after I told her that I was helping you and Terry with something." Mary's eyes narrowed at the old man, she knew that what ever he and Terry had been doing it was a great deal more that simple house chores and administrative work. Max's reaction at the word of Bruce and Terry being involved was all it took for Max to drop everything and Mary knew that Max had some involvement in whatever they were doing.
Bruce looked at Mary's face with apprehension. He knew that Mary was suspicious and that by the end of the night he was going to get an unholy amount of grief from this woman over his dealings with her son. Matt enters the room and Bruce looks down at him, "I hear Max has got you for the night, my sincere condenses on your unfortunate circumstances.
Andrea turns to Bruce completely unsure of what he meant by his words. She scowls at him and returns the scowl in a mocking fashion. Mary can't help but laugh at the teasing that her parents are throwing at one another. Matt looks his grandparents then at his mother. Mary turns to Matt, "I need to talk to your grandparents, go to your room. I'll call you when Max gets here." Matt had already been told that he was to leave the adults alone for the afternoon and left for fear of grounding.
Bruce begins to tell Mary about the information that they needed to retrieve and what it would show. He tentatively added waiting for Mary's reaction, "We need to get the evidence tonight after dinner. I'll go with Andrea and Terry can get the whatever's left over."
The thought of Bruce sending Terry out into danger seemingly without care takes Mary aback and she instantly responds, "Terry can't do that by himself, he could get hurt." Mary isn't sure, but she starts to get the feeling that whatever Terry's been up to in the past may have been equally dangerous and the Bruce had some explaining to do.
Andrea knew that she needed to say something to redirect her daughter and make sure that she was humbled. "I suppose you can grab your suit and join us, Bloody Mary McGinnis."
At the words Bruce stops in his tracks. He had heard of Bloody Mary, the teenager that had tore up several cities criminal underworlds. Bruce shook his head, "It must be genetic."
Mary found herself confused by Bruce's statement and in dire need of an explanation. She said that it was time that Bruce spoke up about the whole situation and what he had gotten her son involved with.
"I'll tell you the story, but you have to promise me that you'll wait till I'm done till you have at me about it." Mary nodded her willingness to let Bruce proceed uninterrupted. "Terry met me the night that Warren was killed. He was being chased by some Jokerz and found himself outside my house. I was not happy about the interruption. The Jokerz wouldn't leave without a fight and we gave them one. After they took off my heart, being what it was gave out. Terry had to help me to the house. Terry finished helping me and I blacked out for a bit. When I woke up Terry had found something I had hoped to keep a secret. I sent Terry packing, but he came back later with information that Derek Powers was creating illegal nerve gas. I told him to go and see Barbara Gordon, but he never made it there." Bruce paused trying to find a way to let the cat out of the bag without him or Terry getting hit upside the head. "Terry came back and stole something from me that could help him take care of Powers and stop the nerve gas shipment. I didn't like the idea, but I didn't have a lot of choice about Terry being involved at that point. After it was over Terry kept my tools and pushed me into letting him take over the work I was to old to do."
Mary sat back and took in the story, but it didn't tell her exactly what it was that they were doing. Still he had let her know the events leading up to his relationship with Terry. Mary decided that whatever it was she wasn't going to like it and that Bruce was aware of her feelings. "I understand, but what exactly is it that Terry took from you."
Bruce looked at Mary and then lowered his head preparing for a verbal assault to follow. He looked up, "I was Batman, Terry stole one of my suits. I shouldn't be the one telling you this. Terry was going to tell you later tonight so that you could know just what we could do about the Valestras. I know that you're upset, but given what Andrea has just said I think you can understand why we haven't said anything before now."
At the words Mary's heart started to drum in her chest. Her son was out almost every night running around in danger and the man in front of her, a man that was old enough to know better, was letting him do it. Mary could barely contain her anger when it dawned on her that she had been running around as Bloody Mary when she was even younger than Terry was. The thought defused her slightly and she took a deep breath, "I hope to god that you have been over his shoulder the entire time he's been doing this . this insanity."
Bruce nodded at Mary and responded, "For the first six months I was constantly monitoring and teaching him. After that he only flew solo when I had to leave town. Max helped Terry out a few times when I wasn't here. I made it a nightmare for him so he would let it go, but he never gave up. I gave up trying to stop him months ago. Since my heart has been better I've even gone out with him once or twice to give him some hands on training, and I've been tutoring him in martial arts."
Mary seemed relieved to know that even though what Terry and Bruce were doing was extreme, Bruce seemed to be taking full responsibility for making sure Terry got home in one piece. Mary looked to her mother, "Then I guess I should get my body armor out to the trunk and help you three out tonight."
Terry entered his home and received a look from his mother that made him wish he could turn tail and run. He looked to Bruce. His face told the story, Mary knew about Batman. He braced for a grounding or worse, but none came. Instead all he heard was, "I hope you want company tonight, because I'm joining you weather you like it or not."
Terry understood remembering his mother's discrete exit the night before as he was coming home. He responded with a raise eyebrow, "Well that black body armor does suit you nicely mom."
Mary was stunned by her son's statement. Clearly he had caught her egress the night before. The door rang. Bruce stood up and mentioned that he would get it, relieved to find a way out of the conversation. He moved to the door and greeted Max by yelling "What?" as he opened the door.
Max started to smile largely and came back at him, "You mean old man, get out of my way." And proceeded into the McGinnis home.
Matt came from his room at the commotion and looked upset to see Max. "Great, the neon one has come to torture me."
Max smiled at Matt as he turned and retreated to his room. Matt wanted to stay and find out what was going on, but he knew his mother would kill him if she even thought that he was listening. Max joined the group. They would have to leave soon for dinner, but maybe she could find out a little more about the situation before they left.
Bruce explained that the Valestras. He assured them that Anthony would need time to get things in order, allowing them to handle things tonight. After tonight things would get increasingly dangerous and their safest strategy was to turn things over to the police before tomorrow night and hope that they could arrest Tony and his people. Max said she could help. Bruce said that he didn't think so, but that if he needed her to run the computers while they were busy he would consider it. Max was thrilled that the old man was willing to let her help. Despite her façade she like the big guy and Terry was her best friend.
"Ooooo, grandma that's disgusting. Matt howled. Bruce smiled at the boy's reaction. Matt looked at Bruce rubbing his cheek like he had acid on it and then was gone.
As they moved into the house Mary announced, "Max will be coming over to watch Matt tonight. She seemed very helpful about it after I told her that I was helping you and Terry with something." Mary's eyes narrowed at the old man, she knew that what ever he and Terry had been doing it was a great deal more that simple house chores and administrative work. Max's reaction at the word of Bruce and Terry being involved was all it took for Max to drop everything and Mary knew that Max had some involvement in whatever they were doing.
Bruce looked at Mary's face with apprehension. He knew that Mary was suspicious and that by the end of the night he was going to get an unholy amount of grief from this woman over his dealings with her son. Matt enters the room and Bruce looks down at him, "I hear Max has got you for the night, my sincere condenses on your unfortunate circumstances.
Andrea turns to Bruce completely unsure of what he meant by his words. She scowls at him and returns the scowl in a mocking fashion. Mary can't help but laugh at the teasing that her parents are throwing at one another. Matt looks his grandparents then at his mother. Mary turns to Matt, "I need to talk to your grandparents, go to your room. I'll call you when Max gets here." Matt had already been told that he was to leave the adults alone for the afternoon and left for fear of grounding.
Bruce begins to tell Mary about the information that they needed to retrieve and what it would show. He tentatively added waiting for Mary's reaction, "We need to get the evidence tonight after dinner. I'll go with Andrea and Terry can get the whatever's left over."
The thought of Bruce sending Terry out into danger seemingly without care takes Mary aback and she instantly responds, "Terry can't do that by himself, he could get hurt." Mary isn't sure, but she starts to get the feeling that whatever Terry's been up to in the past may have been equally dangerous and the Bruce had some explaining to do.
Andrea knew that she needed to say something to redirect her daughter and make sure that she was humbled. "I suppose you can grab your suit and join us, Bloody Mary McGinnis."
At the words Bruce stops in his tracks. He had heard of Bloody Mary, the teenager that had tore up several cities criminal underworlds. Bruce shook his head, "It must be genetic."
Mary found herself confused by Bruce's statement and in dire need of an explanation. She said that it was time that Bruce spoke up about the whole situation and what he had gotten her son involved with.
"I'll tell you the story, but you have to promise me that you'll wait till I'm done till you have at me about it." Mary nodded her willingness to let Bruce proceed uninterrupted. "Terry met me the night that Warren was killed. He was being chased by some Jokerz and found himself outside my house. I was not happy about the interruption. The Jokerz wouldn't leave without a fight and we gave them one. After they took off my heart, being what it was gave out. Terry had to help me to the house. Terry finished helping me and I blacked out for a bit. When I woke up Terry had found something I had hoped to keep a secret. I sent Terry packing, but he came back later with information that Derek Powers was creating illegal nerve gas. I told him to go and see Barbara Gordon, but he never made it there." Bruce paused trying to find a way to let the cat out of the bag without him or Terry getting hit upside the head. "Terry came back and stole something from me that could help him take care of Powers and stop the nerve gas shipment. I didn't like the idea, but I didn't have a lot of choice about Terry being involved at that point. After it was over Terry kept my tools and pushed me into letting him take over the work I was to old to do."
Mary sat back and took in the story, but it didn't tell her exactly what it was that they were doing. Still he had let her know the events leading up to his relationship with Terry. Mary decided that whatever it was she wasn't going to like it and that Bruce was aware of her feelings. "I understand, but what exactly is it that Terry took from you."
Bruce looked at Mary and then lowered his head preparing for a verbal assault to follow. He looked up, "I was Batman, Terry stole one of my suits. I shouldn't be the one telling you this. Terry was going to tell you later tonight so that you could know just what we could do about the Valestras. I know that you're upset, but given what Andrea has just said I think you can understand why we haven't said anything before now."
At the words Mary's heart started to drum in her chest. Her son was out almost every night running around in danger and the man in front of her, a man that was old enough to know better, was letting him do it. Mary could barely contain her anger when it dawned on her that she had been running around as Bloody Mary when she was even younger than Terry was. The thought defused her slightly and she took a deep breath, "I hope to god that you have been over his shoulder the entire time he's been doing this . this insanity."
Bruce nodded at Mary and responded, "For the first six months I was constantly monitoring and teaching him. After that he only flew solo when I had to leave town. Max helped Terry out a few times when I wasn't here. I made it a nightmare for him so he would let it go, but he never gave up. I gave up trying to stop him months ago. Since my heart has been better I've even gone out with him once or twice to give him some hands on training, and I've been tutoring him in martial arts."
Mary seemed relieved to know that even though what Terry and Bruce were doing was extreme, Bruce seemed to be taking full responsibility for making sure Terry got home in one piece. Mary looked to her mother, "Then I guess I should get my body armor out to the trunk and help you three out tonight."
Terry entered his home and received a look from his mother that made him wish he could turn tail and run. He looked to Bruce. His face told the story, Mary knew about Batman. He braced for a grounding or worse, but none came. Instead all he heard was, "I hope you want company tonight, because I'm joining you weather you like it or not."
Terry understood remembering his mother's discrete exit the night before as he was coming home. He responded with a raise eyebrow, "Well that black body armor does suit you nicely mom."
Mary was stunned by her son's statement. Clearly he had caught her egress the night before. The door rang. Bruce stood up and mentioned that he would get it, relieved to find a way out of the conversation. He moved to the door and greeted Max by yelling "What?" as he opened the door.
Max started to smile largely and came back at him, "You mean old man, get out of my way." And proceeded into the McGinnis home.
Matt came from his room at the commotion and looked upset to see Max. "Great, the neon one has come to torture me."
Max smiled at Matt as he turned and retreated to his room. Matt wanted to stay and find out what was going on, but he knew his mother would kill him if she even thought that he was listening. Max joined the group. They would have to leave soon for dinner, but maybe she could find out a little more about the situation before they left.
Bruce explained that the Valestras. He assured them that Anthony would need time to get things in order, allowing them to handle things tonight. After tonight things would get increasingly dangerous and their safest strategy was to turn things over to the police before tomorrow night and hope that they could arrest Tony and his people. Max said she could help. Bruce said that he didn't think so, but that if he needed her to run the computers while they were busy he would consider it. Max was thrilled that the old man was willing to let her help. Despite her façade she like the big guy and Terry was her best friend.