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"It's six a.m., and a icy Wednesday to all of you from Gotham's oldies station, WGHO. I'm Shawna Foxx, getting you up, up, up out of your cozy den! Get your paw off that snooze button! I'll be here with you till ten, but now we've got Alex with the early morning traffic report."
I peeled open one eye, and told the radio, "I'm going to kill you, Ms. Shawna Foxx. As soon as I have breakfast." I sat up, and discovered that I had been undressed, then clad in a long nightdress. I staggered up, then discovered my stomach didn't like that, and ran for the bathroom.
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"Have fun yesterday, Selina?" Bruce asked.
I looked at him, clad in an expensive silk suit, and forced a grin. "Why, yes, Bruce, I did. Dealing with people that are broke, ill, and desperate will bring out the best in a person."
"I'm so glad." He buttered some toast, and observed, "Better hurry, if you want to catch your train."
I hissed at him, and said, "Wait until I get you on a rooftop, mister."
Alfred announced, "I shall return shortly, Master Bruce, after I have dropped Miss Selina off at her train station."
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"Five minutes to spare, Miss Selina."
"Thank you, Alfred, you're a life-saver."
"I have been called such, Miss Selina." As I slammed the door, Alfred added, "You're forgetting your workout clothes, Miss Selina." He reached back and handed me a duffel bag. He waved, then put the van in gear.
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"Thank you for calling." I hung up, and looked at Helen. She glanced at her computer, then said, "If you want to grab a bite to eat, I'll cover for you. It's lunchtime, and my boyfriend is taking me out later."
"Thanks! I could use a bite and a workout." I forwarded my phone to hers, and grabbed my bag.
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I found an open locker, and started to pull off my clothes. Folding them neatly, I opened the duffel and found that Alfred had packed a complete change of clothes for me, in addition to the short unitard. I shrugged, then changed to the sport bra, and slid into the gray workout suit.
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"Looking to be the next Batgirl?" A redheaded girl asked as I left the locker room. I glanced down at the tiny gray tee shirt on my chest with the "Bat" logo on it, then said with a grin, "Why not?"
I stopped on entering the gym, and looked around. While small, it was well equipped, with treadmills, weight equipment, punching bags, and so forth. I grinned to myself, and claimed a treadmill.
The console beeped, signaling the end of my five miles. I jumped off as it slowed, then drank from my water bottle, and walked over to the hanging punching bag. One lean, well-built fellow with silver hair was just finishing up, and I admired his form for a minute. He stopped and eyed my own form, and I smiled. He grinned, and said, "I'm Gordon. Haven't seen you in here before. You want to give it a try?"
"Selina. I'm new here. If you're done?"
He nodded, and started to bite at his glove's lacing. I moved forward, and said, "Allow me." He held out his arm, and I had the glove off, and was motioning for the other one. He mopped his hair with his towel, then motioned for me to hold out my hands for the gloves.
I don't know why, but my first few punches were ... clumsy, awkward. I think I was having the same problem Bruce was, I wasn't comfortable in my new body yet. Maybe it was Gordon, standing behind me, guiding my arms. I felt something hard poking me in my lower back, and I didn't think it was a water bottle.
"I think I've got it. Let me give it a try." I told Gordon with a smile. I tried to put myself on autopilot, like I had on the train, and empty my mind. Gordon stepped back, and I moved into the first position of tae-san-we. With a deep breath, I cleared my mind, and went into automatic.
"Jeez-us!" someone said. I shook my head to clear my mind, and looked at the heavy leather punching bag. It had several large rips in it, and was hanging by one chain. The other two chains hung in pieces. I looked at Gordon, and blinked. "Did I do that? I'm so sorry! I ..."
Gordon held up his hand, and said with a grin, "Remind me not to get you angry at me, Selina. Are you finished, or would you like to destroy some more company equipment?"
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I had borrowed some cable ties and duct tape from Joanie, and was trying to stretch to reach the chains on the top of the bag when Gordon came in. He had some clear shipping tape and twine, and was wearing a very nice suit. He smiled when he saw me, and said, "I see we had the same idea. Let me help you with that."
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Gordon dropped me at the station, and I asked the ticket agent about buying an annual pass. He replied, "Annuals stopped selling in March. You can buy a monthly pass 'till the end of the year, miss." I sighed, and nodded.
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The train sighed into the Parkhurst station, and I collected my bags. Squeezing between the closing doors, I trudged to the parking lot to find my car.
### Chapter 13: Of Gyms and Guys