Jim Dover has barely uttered a word during the return trip, save emphatic instructions for the driver to proceed directly into the parking garage. Building security closes the gate behind the limousine, much to the chagrin of the two dozen photographers and the television crews awaiting its arrival. Batgirl is relieved to bypass this latest media blitz. She tires of the constant scrutiny and the corresponding need to suppress all of her fears and anxieties.
The attorney escorts his famous costumed client to the basement elevator, which will take them up to his third floor law offices. The sullen Dover is immersed in thought when he suddenly mutters an expletive. Batgirl then notices the cause of her lawyer's latest frustration. The elevator is out of order. "Looks like we're doing the stairs." he notes somewhat apologetically.
Batgirl is terribly dismayed by this seemingly minor inconvenience, although she makes no indication of such. Barbara is still recovering from her stabbing. Having endured nerve damage and multiple organ trauma, she faces a minimum of six more months of rehabilitation. It remains very painful for the heroine to exert herself. Sitting idly in a courtroom all day long is hard enough under the circumstances. Three flights of stairs seems like a mountain.
Ignoring her discomfort, the crime fighter leads the way up the stairwell. The third floor hallway is quiet. As they enter the welcomed haven of Dover's office, Batgirl pulls out a small hand-held device from her utility belt. "What are you ..." Jim begins, only to be abruptly shushed by his client. The heroine quickly canvasses the entire office, checking for the presence of electronic bugs or explosives. After verifying that all is clear, she takes a seat on the sofa. "I've done this for each of our meetings here; this time I merely dispensed with my usual subtlety." Batgirl confesses. "I trust you and your staff. Unfortunately, I've made enough enemies that I can't help but be extra cautious."
"You sure are something else, aren't you?!" Jim rhetorically asks. His tone is sarcastic and unexpectedly hostile. "Pardon me?" the super heroine responds with a slightly quizzical smile. "Life is all just a lark to you, isn't it?" Dover angrily accuses. "Tell me something Babs, what gives you the most kicks ... trading punches with the dregs of Gotham City or making a complete sap out of me?!"
A lump forms in the heroine's throat. This is the very setting in which she had intended to reveal her dual identity. On her terms, she had hoped to ease the shock and the hard feelings. Instead, Jim has uncovered the truth for himself. Barbara is taken aback and temporarily struggles for words. "Now Jim let's not draw any hasty conclusions ..." she tentatively requests.
"Of course, of course! Now comes the denial!" Dover snidely retorts. "'I'm not Barbara Gordon. What could have ever given you that idea?'" he mockingly goads before pacing about the outer office. "I've had it with your lies and deception! Game over!"
A withdrawn Batgirl stares past Jim at the large double-window, seemingly mesmerized by the light which penetrates the slats of the pulled shades. Seconds turn into minutes as time seems to stop. "How long have you known?" the heroine finally asks. Although she is still masked, the voice is unmistakably that of Barbara Gordon. Her classic Gotham accent flows smoothly in conjunction with her natural soprano tone. The contrast is more striking than the lawyer had even realized. As Batgirl she convincingly employs an alternate voice, an alto tone with a hybrid dialect of Philadelphia and New York speech tendencies.
"I didn't know for certain until just a few minutes ago when I tested my theory. " Dover explains. "I arranged for the elevator to be 'out of order', thus forcing us to take the stairs. Sure enough, Batgirl subtly favored her right side. My hunch was correct."
"I suspected nothing until we were well into the trial." Jim admits. "You're shrewd Babs, but there's a lot of history between us. You can wear a mask. You can throw people off with your slick vocal aerobics, but you can't change who you really are. You're a brilliant woman; strikingly confident and well-spoken. As Batgirl, you demonstrate these same qualities. The more we talked and strategized your defense, the more a connection began to form in my mind."
"I suppose I consciously deduced the truth during your own testimony." the attorney continues. "In that setting, you had to sell yourself to the jury. Batgirl had to clearly articulate her recollection of events to counteract the videotape evidence. Your reasoning, choice of words and diction were enough to give you away, at least to me that is."
In some ways Batgirl is relieved that Jim now knows her secret. It would be terribly cruel for him to learn of it in the courtroom should she be convicted. Nonetheless, this knowledge does not come without complications. "So what are you going to do?" the heroine asks sheepishly. The lawyer offers no response, but it is clear he understands the implication of her question. "Since you now know that Barbara Gordon and Batgirl are one-in-the-same, you are ethically bound to inform the court that your client has deliberately perjured herself on the stand. Furthermore, there is the matter of arranging for a *ahem* doppleganger to impersonate Batgirl while I took the stand as Bar ..."
"Enough!" Dover snaps. "I don't want to hear any more. It's better that I don't hear any more. Plausible deniability, right?" Jim again paces about the office while Batgirl respectfully allows him to collect his thoughts. "Look, despite this secret life and the crazy demands it makes, I would like to think that I still know Barbara Gordon. You're no criminal. Yes, you lied on the stand, but that was solely to protect your true identity. Just tell me one thing Babs. Swear to me that you haven't twisted around your story in any other way."
The situation remains very uncomfortable for Barbara, for she can not make such an assertion in good conscience. From the outset, she has not divulged the Batman's role in this incident. As an outsider to the "Batman Family", Jim would not understand or approve of her motives. He would surely not accept that this decision falls under the purview of personal privacy.
"Jim, I assure you that any lies I have knowingly told the police or the court were strictly with secret identity concerns in mind." Babs takes a deep breath as she continues to carefully craft her words. "I have never crossed the line as Batgirl and I'm proud of that. You used the term 'dregs' to describe the criminals I regularly confront. I think 'slime' or 'scum' are oftentimes more fitting. Spike Denton is just that, a despicable lowlife who has no place in a civilized society. That said, I did not shove him off of that rooftop. That's not how Batgirl operates. I wanted Denton behind bars, not in a casket!"
Dover quietly ponders Batgirl's spirited declaration. As a criminal attorney, he is inherently skeptical. Defendants frequently lie, even to their own lawyers. Instinctively, Jim suspects that something isn't quite right with Barbara's explanation. She may not be lying, but she seems to be withholding something. A piece of the puzzle is missing.
"So I take it that Denton fell because you were too weakened to prevent it?" Jim Dover theorizes. Batgirl nods in corroboration. "Well then Babs, just how exactly did you get off of that roof?" The question visibly unnerves the caped heroine. "You were grievously wounded, yet somehow you managed to escape the scene, change clothes and resurface a few blocks away to stage Congresswoman Gordon's assault. Very curious! Even more curious is that there weren't any traces of your blood found in the stairway or that rooftop!"
The lawyer intentionally allows Barbara to nervously stew about his probing questions. Several uneasy moments of dead silence pass. "All right, you won't answer me." Dover finally interjects. "That's just as well, but know this. If you are convicted and we wind up in appeals court, you are going to tell me everything that happened that day. You will reveal exactly how it went down and who else was with you!"
*****
"Yes, that's right Charlie. One order of pork lo mein with broccoli, one order of shrimp chow mein, two egg rolls and one wonton soup. Listen it's a madhouse down here with all of the press camped out front. Just have Kim deliver it to the front gate. The guard knows to expect her. Put it on my tab; I'll settle up with you tomorrow. Thanks buddy!"
Batgirl pours two cups of coffee while Jim completes his call for takeout. "I presume you still take it straight?" she asks after he hangs up the telephone. "Of course." Dover replies. "Nothing better than pitch black java to get a lawyer through his twenty hour work day!" he grins. Babs adds a little milk to her coffee and dumps in two heaping tablespoons of sugar. "Ughh!" she grimaces as she hands Jim his mug. "I've never understood how anyone can tolerate this stuff unsweetened. I'd rather breathe in a face full of the Penguin's umbrella gas than drink that!"
The tension has subsided considerably over the past fifteen minutes. A bathroom break provided both Jim and Barbara the much-needed few moments to calm down. The current predicament supersedes any ill feelings from their failed relationship and the shocking revelation that Babs is Batgirl.
Batgirl takes a seat adjacent to Jim. Her facial expression is serious once again as she asks the attorney for his honest appraisal of where the case stands. "You know the answer as well as I do. The situation does not look good." Dover frankly admits. Barbara is not surprised by this assessment and glumly listens as he further elaborates. "My sources are predicting a 75% chance of conviction. Personally, I fear that the odds may be even worse."
"Barbara, please listen to me!" Jim implores as he leans forward in his chair. "I know you wanted no part of this at the beginning of the trial, but we have very little recourse left. Milton Price's deal is still on the table ... one year in a minimum security facility. He expects you to unmask, but if you also agree to retire as a costumed crime fighter, I think he can be persuaded to relent on that."
Batgirl's body trembles as a cool chill dances along her spine. The prospect of incarceration terrifies her. The super heroine adamantly rejects Jim Dover's pleas to consider the prosecutor's offer. The attorney warns that she faces 8 to 12 years in a maximum security prison, plus certain unmasking. Barbara understands the risks and appreciates his concern, but she will not willingly concede a year of her life or her super-heroic career.
"Dammit Babs! Listen to reason!" Jim bellows as he springs to his feet in a near rage. He clenches his fists and forces himself to remain rational. "You're facing very poor odds, in my opinion. Believe me, I don't want to see you in a cell, but a year is a hell of a lot different than a decade. With good behavior you could be out in nine months. If you're convicted, you're throwing your life away!"
A beleaguered Barbara Gordon stares at the floor. It is not her decision that weighs heavily upon her mind. Quite the contrary. Babs will not accept the plea bargain; end of debate. Naturally she is very worried about her fate, but Jim's perceptions are also an issue. "You don't understand." she responds while slowly rising from her chair. Batgirl glances down at her costumed figure and momentarily extends her arms wide to showcase her cape. "I need this." she insists.
"This is utterly crazy!" Dover observes indignantly. "Back when we were together, I always resented how often Congresswoman Babs burned the midnight oil. Our relationship suffered and eventually fell apart. To lose you because of your career ambitions was very hard to accept, but on account of 'Batgirl' is impossible! Barbara, what in the hell are you doing?!"
Jim Dover's blood pressure rises with every word and Babs quickly develops an ire to match. A seething Ms. Gordon pulls back her cowl and angrily snaps at her former lover. The lawyer is six inches taller than the red-headed heroine, yet this does not preclude the pair from engaging in a heated, face-to-face exchange.
"Don't you dare lay all of the blame on me!" Barbara screams. "You work a hundred hours a week. When you're knee-deep in a case, you barely leave time to breathe, much less have a social life! You were that way before we ever met and nothing has changed since. I heard you and Jenny Robinson split up couple months ago. Let me guess, her secret life as Supergirl was just too much of a burden to your relationship?!"
The two exchange several more barbs before Jim eases off. The lawyer chuckles aloud while Batgirl remains incensed. "You'd think I would have remembered enough to avoid a shouting match with you. It's a losing proposition." he remarks. "When I throw a fit, I'm like most everyone else; I rant senselessly. Not you Babs. Even when you're pissed, your wit stays sharp as a knife. That razor tongue of yours just carves us poor fools to pieces!"
Batgirl laughs along with her attorney as the emotional tension again ebbs. "Babs," Jim asks calmly, "why do you do this? What motivates a beautiful, successful career woman to put her ass on the line night after night, cloaked underneath cape and cowl?"
"What do you charge per hour, Dr. Freud?" Babs jokes. "There's no simple answer Jim." she begins. "I was a teenager when the Batman first appeared on the scene in Gotham. Due to my father's unofficial working arrangement with him, I had the unique opportunity to eavesdrop upon conversations and observe the hero. He was a mysterious, yet fascinating individual."
"So you were ... infatuated with Batman?" Jim curiously inquires. Barbara smiles slightly and shakes her head left to right. "It was admiration, not infatuation." she clarifies. "My father has devoted his life to police force. He's been running the GCPD for years now and they do a hell of job. Unfortunately, despite its many good points, Gotham City is a cesspool of crime ... has been for decades. The police can only do so much. The Batman is the perfect complement for the GCPD, striving for justice while working outside of the constraints of conventional law enforcement. He is a trailblazer, paving the way for the likes of Robin, Nightwing and myself."
Dover respects the enormous positive impact of the Batman, despite occasionally questioning the severity of his methods. He understands how the daughter of the longtime police commissioner could revere the boldness and courage of such a man. Still baffling to the attorney, however, is how and why Babs made the leap from admirer to active participant. "I even seem to recall you once mentioning that you had never been much of an athlete growing up." Jim remarks.
"True enough," Batgirl confirms, "but that was due to priorities. I was looking ahead to the Ivy League when I was 12 years old. I spent most of my free time in the library, reading and studying. I had the talent to run track or play basketball, but not the inclination. I was probably the fastest sprinter ever to attend Gotham High, but nobody knew it. Heaven forbid that the track coach should pressure me to join the team!"
"The first time I wore this costume, it was not with the intention of being a super heroine." Babs recounts. "It was just for a costume party, but fate had other ideas in mind. Instinctively, I prevented Killer Moth from abducting Bruce Wayne; thus Batgirl was born. Thankfully I had the good sense not to take anything for granted from that first foray. With some earlier martial arts training to build around, I worked my butt off to condition myself for the enormous road I was about to travel."
"It's almost impossible to describe Jim." she explains. "Being a super heroine is a rush, but it's also a whole lot more. Batgirl provides me with a sense of empowerment which dwarfs any and all other aspects of Barbara Gordon. Even the good I can achieve as a politician seems so minuscule by comparison. This sounds cliche I'm sure, but as Batgirl I can truly make a difference. I see it every day when I don this radical outfit."
"I'll never change your mind, will I?" Dover asks. Barbara need not even voice a response to her dejected lawyer's question. She tenderly clutches his hand and looks him directly in the eye. "Jim, no matter what happens from here, please know that I appreciate your advice and everything you've done for me. You tried a great case, given the lousy hand I dealt you."
In a happenstance neither planned nor anticipated, their lips gravitate towards each other as if under an intense magnetic attraction. Her arms slip snugly around his torso. Batgirl grimaces as Dover begins to cradle her in his long arms. Jim mumbles a brief apology before their lips again lock and he takes special care not to aggravate her still sensitive right side. Never did Jim or Barbara think such a passionate embrace could ever again be shared between them.
The romantic interlude lasts for precious few seconds before it is abruptly interrupted by a knock on the outer office door. A wave of panic engulfs Batgirl. She pulls away from Dover and swiftly draws her mask back down over her face. Jim glances down at his watch while he walks toward the door. "Relax Batgirl." he calmly advises. "Dinner is here."
The attorney escorts his famous costumed client to the basement elevator, which will take them up to his third floor law offices. The sullen Dover is immersed in thought when he suddenly mutters an expletive. Batgirl then notices the cause of her lawyer's latest frustration. The elevator is out of order. "Looks like we're doing the stairs." he notes somewhat apologetically.
Batgirl is terribly dismayed by this seemingly minor inconvenience, although she makes no indication of such. Barbara is still recovering from her stabbing. Having endured nerve damage and multiple organ trauma, she faces a minimum of six more months of rehabilitation. It remains very painful for the heroine to exert herself. Sitting idly in a courtroom all day long is hard enough under the circumstances. Three flights of stairs seems like a mountain.
Ignoring her discomfort, the crime fighter leads the way up the stairwell. The third floor hallway is quiet. As they enter the welcomed haven of Dover's office, Batgirl pulls out a small hand-held device from her utility belt. "What are you ..." Jim begins, only to be abruptly shushed by his client. The heroine quickly canvasses the entire office, checking for the presence of electronic bugs or explosives. After verifying that all is clear, she takes a seat on the sofa. "I've done this for each of our meetings here; this time I merely dispensed with my usual subtlety." Batgirl confesses. "I trust you and your staff. Unfortunately, I've made enough enemies that I can't help but be extra cautious."
"You sure are something else, aren't you?!" Jim rhetorically asks. His tone is sarcastic and unexpectedly hostile. "Pardon me?" the super heroine responds with a slightly quizzical smile. "Life is all just a lark to you, isn't it?" Dover angrily accuses. "Tell me something Babs, what gives you the most kicks ... trading punches with the dregs of Gotham City or making a complete sap out of me?!"
A lump forms in the heroine's throat. This is the very setting in which she had intended to reveal her dual identity. On her terms, she had hoped to ease the shock and the hard feelings. Instead, Jim has uncovered the truth for himself. Barbara is taken aback and temporarily struggles for words. "Now Jim let's not draw any hasty conclusions ..." she tentatively requests.
"Of course, of course! Now comes the denial!" Dover snidely retorts. "'I'm not Barbara Gordon. What could have ever given you that idea?'" he mockingly goads before pacing about the outer office. "I've had it with your lies and deception! Game over!"
A withdrawn Batgirl stares past Jim at the large double-window, seemingly mesmerized by the light which penetrates the slats of the pulled shades. Seconds turn into minutes as time seems to stop. "How long have you known?" the heroine finally asks. Although she is still masked, the voice is unmistakably that of Barbara Gordon. Her classic Gotham accent flows smoothly in conjunction with her natural soprano tone. The contrast is more striking than the lawyer had even realized. As Batgirl she convincingly employs an alternate voice, an alto tone with a hybrid dialect of Philadelphia and New York speech tendencies.
"I didn't know for certain until just a few minutes ago when I tested my theory. " Dover explains. "I arranged for the elevator to be 'out of order', thus forcing us to take the stairs. Sure enough, Batgirl subtly favored her right side. My hunch was correct."
"I suspected nothing until we were well into the trial." Jim admits. "You're shrewd Babs, but there's a lot of history between us. You can wear a mask. You can throw people off with your slick vocal aerobics, but you can't change who you really are. You're a brilliant woman; strikingly confident and well-spoken. As Batgirl, you demonstrate these same qualities. The more we talked and strategized your defense, the more a connection began to form in my mind."
"I suppose I consciously deduced the truth during your own testimony." the attorney continues. "In that setting, you had to sell yourself to the jury. Batgirl had to clearly articulate her recollection of events to counteract the videotape evidence. Your reasoning, choice of words and diction were enough to give you away, at least to me that is."
In some ways Batgirl is relieved that Jim now knows her secret. It would be terribly cruel for him to learn of it in the courtroom should she be convicted. Nonetheless, this knowledge does not come without complications. "So what are you going to do?" the heroine asks sheepishly. The lawyer offers no response, but it is clear he understands the implication of her question. "Since you now know that Barbara Gordon and Batgirl are one-in-the-same, you are ethically bound to inform the court that your client has deliberately perjured herself on the stand. Furthermore, there is the matter of arranging for a *ahem* doppleganger to impersonate Batgirl while I took the stand as Bar ..."
"Enough!" Dover snaps. "I don't want to hear any more. It's better that I don't hear any more. Plausible deniability, right?" Jim again paces about the office while Batgirl respectfully allows him to collect his thoughts. "Look, despite this secret life and the crazy demands it makes, I would like to think that I still know Barbara Gordon. You're no criminal. Yes, you lied on the stand, but that was solely to protect your true identity. Just tell me one thing Babs. Swear to me that you haven't twisted around your story in any other way."
The situation remains very uncomfortable for Barbara, for she can not make such an assertion in good conscience. From the outset, she has not divulged the Batman's role in this incident. As an outsider to the "Batman Family", Jim would not understand or approve of her motives. He would surely not accept that this decision falls under the purview of personal privacy.
"Jim, I assure you that any lies I have knowingly told the police or the court were strictly with secret identity concerns in mind." Babs takes a deep breath as she continues to carefully craft her words. "I have never crossed the line as Batgirl and I'm proud of that. You used the term 'dregs' to describe the criminals I regularly confront. I think 'slime' or 'scum' are oftentimes more fitting. Spike Denton is just that, a despicable lowlife who has no place in a civilized society. That said, I did not shove him off of that rooftop. That's not how Batgirl operates. I wanted Denton behind bars, not in a casket!"
Dover quietly ponders Batgirl's spirited declaration. As a criminal attorney, he is inherently skeptical. Defendants frequently lie, even to their own lawyers. Instinctively, Jim suspects that something isn't quite right with Barbara's explanation. She may not be lying, but she seems to be withholding something. A piece of the puzzle is missing.
"So I take it that Denton fell because you were too weakened to prevent it?" Jim Dover theorizes. Batgirl nods in corroboration. "Well then Babs, just how exactly did you get off of that roof?" The question visibly unnerves the caped heroine. "You were grievously wounded, yet somehow you managed to escape the scene, change clothes and resurface a few blocks away to stage Congresswoman Gordon's assault. Very curious! Even more curious is that there weren't any traces of your blood found in the stairway or that rooftop!"
The lawyer intentionally allows Barbara to nervously stew about his probing questions. Several uneasy moments of dead silence pass. "All right, you won't answer me." Dover finally interjects. "That's just as well, but know this. If you are convicted and we wind up in appeals court, you are going to tell me everything that happened that day. You will reveal exactly how it went down and who else was with you!"
*****
"Yes, that's right Charlie. One order of pork lo mein with broccoli, one order of shrimp chow mein, two egg rolls and one wonton soup. Listen it's a madhouse down here with all of the press camped out front. Just have Kim deliver it to the front gate. The guard knows to expect her. Put it on my tab; I'll settle up with you tomorrow. Thanks buddy!"
Batgirl pours two cups of coffee while Jim completes his call for takeout. "I presume you still take it straight?" she asks after he hangs up the telephone. "Of course." Dover replies. "Nothing better than pitch black java to get a lawyer through his twenty hour work day!" he grins. Babs adds a little milk to her coffee and dumps in two heaping tablespoons of sugar. "Ughh!" she grimaces as she hands Jim his mug. "I've never understood how anyone can tolerate this stuff unsweetened. I'd rather breathe in a face full of the Penguin's umbrella gas than drink that!"
The tension has subsided considerably over the past fifteen minutes. A bathroom break provided both Jim and Barbara the much-needed few moments to calm down. The current predicament supersedes any ill feelings from their failed relationship and the shocking revelation that Babs is Batgirl.
Batgirl takes a seat adjacent to Jim. Her facial expression is serious once again as she asks the attorney for his honest appraisal of where the case stands. "You know the answer as well as I do. The situation does not look good." Dover frankly admits. Barbara is not surprised by this assessment and glumly listens as he further elaborates. "My sources are predicting a 75% chance of conviction. Personally, I fear that the odds may be even worse."
"Barbara, please listen to me!" Jim implores as he leans forward in his chair. "I know you wanted no part of this at the beginning of the trial, but we have very little recourse left. Milton Price's deal is still on the table ... one year in a minimum security facility. He expects you to unmask, but if you also agree to retire as a costumed crime fighter, I think he can be persuaded to relent on that."
Batgirl's body trembles as a cool chill dances along her spine. The prospect of incarceration terrifies her. The super heroine adamantly rejects Jim Dover's pleas to consider the prosecutor's offer. The attorney warns that she faces 8 to 12 years in a maximum security prison, plus certain unmasking. Barbara understands the risks and appreciates his concern, but she will not willingly concede a year of her life or her super-heroic career.
"Dammit Babs! Listen to reason!" Jim bellows as he springs to his feet in a near rage. He clenches his fists and forces himself to remain rational. "You're facing very poor odds, in my opinion. Believe me, I don't want to see you in a cell, but a year is a hell of a lot different than a decade. With good behavior you could be out in nine months. If you're convicted, you're throwing your life away!"
A beleaguered Barbara Gordon stares at the floor. It is not her decision that weighs heavily upon her mind. Quite the contrary. Babs will not accept the plea bargain; end of debate. Naturally she is very worried about her fate, but Jim's perceptions are also an issue. "You don't understand." she responds while slowly rising from her chair. Batgirl glances down at her costumed figure and momentarily extends her arms wide to showcase her cape. "I need this." she insists.
"This is utterly crazy!" Dover observes indignantly. "Back when we were together, I always resented how often Congresswoman Babs burned the midnight oil. Our relationship suffered and eventually fell apart. To lose you because of your career ambitions was very hard to accept, but on account of 'Batgirl' is impossible! Barbara, what in the hell are you doing?!"
Jim Dover's blood pressure rises with every word and Babs quickly develops an ire to match. A seething Ms. Gordon pulls back her cowl and angrily snaps at her former lover. The lawyer is six inches taller than the red-headed heroine, yet this does not preclude the pair from engaging in a heated, face-to-face exchange.
"Don't you dare lay all of the blame on me!" Barbara screams. "You work a hundred hours a week. When you're knee-deep in a case, you barely leave time to breathe, much less have a social life! You were that way before we ever met and nothing has changed since. I heard you and Jenny Robinson split up couple months ago. Let me guess, her secret life as Supergirl was just too much of a burden to your relationship?!"
The two exchange several more barbs before Jim eases off. The lawyer chuckles aloud while Batgirl remains incensed. "You'd think I would have remembered enough to avoid a shouting match with you. It's a losing proposition." he remarks. "When I throw a fit, I'm like most everyone else; I rant senselessly. Not you Babs. Even when you're pissed, your wit stays sharp as a knife. That razor tongue of yours just carves us poor fools to pieces!"
Batgirl laughs along with her attorney as the emotional tension again ebbs. "Babs," Jim asks calmly, "why do you do this? What motivates a beautiful, successful career woman to put her ass on the line night after night, cloaked underneath cape and cowl?"
"What do you charge per hour, Dr. Freud?" Babs jokes. "There's no simple answer Jim." she begins. "I was a teenager when the Batman first appeared on the scene in Gotham. Due to my father's unofficial working arrangement with him, I had the unique opportunity to eavesdrop upon conversations and observe the hero. He was a mysterious, yet fascinating individual."
"So you were ... infatuated with Batman?" Jim curiously inquires. Barbara smiles slightly and shakes her head left to right. "It was admiration, not infatuation." she clarifies. "My father has devoted his life to police force. He's been running the GCPD for years now and they do a hell of job. Unfortunately, despite its many good points, Gotham City is a cesspool of crime ... has been for decades. The police can only do so much. The Batman is the perfect complement for the GCPD, striving for justice while working outside of the constraints of conventional law enforcement. He is a trailblazer, paving the way for the likes of Robin, Nightwing and myself."
Dover respects the enormous positive impact of the Batman, despite occasionally questioning the severity of his methods. He understands how the daughter of the longtime police commissioner could revere the boldness and courage of such a man. Still baffling to the attorney, however, is how and why Babs made the leap from admirer to active participant. "I even seem to recall you once mentioning that you had never been much of an athlete growing up." Jim remarks.
"True enough," Batgirl confirms, "but that was due to priorities. I was looking ahead to the Ivy League when I was 12 years old. I spent most of my free time in the library, reading and studying. I had the talent to run track or play basketball, but not the inclination. I was probably the fastest sprinter ever to attend Gotham High, but nobody knew it. Heaven forbid that the track coach should pressure me to join the team!"
"The first time I wore this costume, it was not with the intention of being a super heroine." Babs recounts. "It was just for a costume party, but fate had other ideas in mind. Instinctively, I prevented Killer Moth from abducting Bruce Wayne; thus Batgirl was born. Thankfully I had the good sense not to take anything for granted from that first foray. With some earlier martial arts training to build around, I worked my butt off to condition myself for the enormous road I was about to travel."
"It's almost impossible to describe Jim." she explains. "Being a super heroine is a rush, but it's also a whole lot more. Batgirl provides me with a sense of empowerment which dwarfs any and all other aspects of Barbara Gordon. Even the good I can achieve as a politician seems so minuscule by comparison. This sounds cliche I'm sure, but as Batgirl I can truly make a difference. I see it every day when I don this radical outfit."
"I'll never change your mind, will I?" Dover asks. Barbara need not even voice a response to her dejected lawyer's question. She tenderly clutches his hand and looks him directly in the eye. "Jim, no matter what happens from here, please know that I appreciate your advice and everything you've done for me. You tried a great case, given the lousy hand I dealt you."
In a happenstance neither planned nor anticipated, their lips gravitate towards each other as if under an intense magnetic attraction. Her arms slip snugly around his torso. Batgirl grimaces as Dover begins to cradle her in his long arms. Jim mumbles a brief apology before their lips again lock and he takes special care not to aggravate her still sensitive right side. Never did Jim or Barbara think such a passionate embrace could ever again be shared between them.
The romantic interlude lasts for precious few seconds before it is abruptly interrupted by a knock on the outer office door. A wave of panic engulfs Batgirl. She pulls away from Dover and swiftly draws her mask back down over her face. Jim glances down at his watch while he walks toward the door. "Relax Batgirl." he calmly advises. "Dinner is here."