"You know I hate you, right?" Max jerked her hand angrily away from Terry's arm. They had just finished running the media gamut leading into the Governor's mansion and she was still half-blinded from the camera flashes. Terry had pulled her over to an unoccupied corner of the slowly filling ballroom.
"Yeah," he muttered. "I think you might have mentioned it a few dozen times on the way here."
"So tell me again why you insisted I had to come?"
The intensity of her glare had him worried that laser bolts might actually shoot out of her eyes. He was beginning to think this had been the biggest mistake he had ever made in his life. He had experienced Max this angry before, but realized it had never been directed to such a degree at him. To say he was feeling uncomfortable at the moment was like agreeing that Mad Stan was a rational human being. This--was the woman he wanted to get to know better?
Suck it up McGinnis. You wanted this so you better make the best of it. He forced an ingratiating grin.
"Because I thought it would be nice to spend time together outside of the 'work' environment for a change. Isn't that what friends do?"
"Friends don't subject their friends to torture. Do you have any idea what I had to go through to get ready for this thing? And I'm not talking about time, which you know I have absolutely none to spare."
"Well, whatever it took, it was worth it. You look--" he shook his head in awe, blue eyes sparkling admiration. "Gorgeous."
Max lowered her head, suddenly embarrassed by his attention. She ran nervous hands down the silken folds of her gown. Much of her anger was triggered by a feeling of inadequacy. The women Terry was usually seen with had more beauty and sex-appeal in their little fingers than she had in her entire body. Dana would have fit right in here. She and Terry had always looked good together. Intellect was where she, Max the brainy one, shined and felt most at ease displaying.
The evening moves on. Bruce and Barbara spend the time talking to each other and mingling, as required, with noteworthy others. Terry and Max slowly warm to the situation they are in and actually manage to have a good time. After a rousing bout of dancing they stumble breathless and laughing outside for fresh air.
A single couple, latched arm to arm and oblivious of anything but themselves, strolled back inside just as Max and Terry were coming out onto the lighted garden terrace. They found themselves alone in the elaborate display of foliage, flowers and rock-paved pathways.
Hearing the steady trickle of falling water drew Max to a small fountain nestled amongst a profusion of ferns and ornamental grasses. Terry followed, his leisurely gaze noting how the ground-mounted lamps played a lacy pattern of light through the gently swaying flora.
Max perched on the brick edge of a knee high pond and dangled one hand through the shiny water. Sedately swimming goldfish darted away from her actions. She giggled and looked up at Terry who responded with a slow smile and continued to watch as she then ran her hands through the feathery fronds of the greenery surrounding her. Again she cast a jubilant expression in his direction.
"They're so delicate. And they tickle."
Abruptly she jumped to her feet, threw up her arms and swirled in delight, the delicate material of her ankle-length skirt billowing outward. Terry's sight was instinctively drawn to her long shapely legs.
"Oh Terry. Look at all of this. Isn't it beautiful?"
"They sure are." he murmured to himself with a happy grin.
"And can you smell those flowers? Which ones are giving off that scent?"
He chuckled softly as she sniffed the air, following a scent trail to find the answer. He'd never seen her act so girlish. Maybe that glass of champagne she had sipped from earlier was the reason. She wasn't fond of alcohol, so when she did imbibe it easily affected her
He felt more than heard an abnormal rustle from the nearby hedges. Gaze turning sharp in that direction revealed nothing to his unaided eyes. If he'd had the suit on it would have given him detailed answers to his suspicions.
Let it go McGinnis. You're playing the non-Batman role tonight. This is your big chance with Max. Don't blow it. Probably just a stray dog or cat.
Shrugging his uneasiness away, Terry riveted full attention back to Max. The soft garden lights were casting a warm glow across the smooth, dark skin of her face and drawing out the radiant quality of her eyes.
She stretched up to a trio of flowered hanging baskets, inhaling their aroma while her hips swayed unconsciously with the rhythm of the music drifting through the doors. Terry clamped down on a sudden urge to move behind her, place his hands firmly around her waist and start swaying with her. Taking a shuddering breath, he turned away from the sight. Following through on that impulse might result in his getting a black eye or something much worse. Though he would never admit it to her, sparring with her the last few weeks had convinced him she could be a formidable threat if her approach could be more consistent and aggressive. She only did her best when he could goad her into anger.
Wiping sweat from his clammy hands onto his pant legs, Terry distracted himself by concentrating on the scenery. An unnatural flicker of movement in the greenery, ahead and to the right, caught his eye. His vision narrowed in on the area.
There was no doubt this time. The shadows in the shrubbery were moving. A lot of shadows. All his instincts rumbled danger. Hoping for time and wanting to warn her, Terry casually turned and stepped back towards Max. He felt the silken material of her dress as his hands pressed around the firm curve of her waist With gentle persistence he turned her to face him. She gasped in surprise and began to pull away, but he gathered her even closer. Cheek to cheek he murmured to his now fuming 'back-up'.
"We're in trouble Max. Work with me here."
She grunted trying to break out of his strong embrace. "You're the only one who's going to be troubled if you don't release me right now."
"Hey--just listen for a second."
"What are--"
"Look. Over to your right. Behind the hedges. Possible intruders."
Finally noting his intense tone, Max relaxed and subtly shifted her eyes to look. Fighting distraction as Terry started to nuzzle her ear she saw what he was worried about. Two hooded figures were peering out from between a gap in the hedges, either not aware how the lights were exposing them or not caring.
"Pretend we're making out. It might buy us some time."
Terry caressed her cheek with soft kisses, now bringing his hands into the act to mold and press against the contours of her back. Despite the looming danger, Max found it difficult not to react to his 'pretending'.
Slightly breathless she whispered, "What should we do?"
"Kiss me."
"What?" She managed a shaky gasp at the audacity of his suggestion.
"Act like you're enjoying this. We might be entertaining enough to hold them off for awhile."
"Oh." All his touching was making it hard for her to focus on his words, much less think clearly. "I get it. Just… until we figure out what to do."
"Right." Whoa! She was actually falling for this and there was no way he could follow through. Those shadowed figures were starting to emerge from hiding. Maybe if he hurried her… "Kiss me."
He pulled his head back, presenting her with an easy target. Max hesitated. Did she really want to do this? It's just an act girl! Buying time remember? Lips parting, she moved forward.
Impatient because the moment was slipping away, Terry met her halfway and made the most of his opportunity. The feel of her full lips against his, pliable and moist, was better than he imagined. He almost moaned in frustration as peripheral vision noted the hostiles moving closer. With supreme effort he broke off the kiss and nuzzled her ear again to whisper.
"You might get a chance to use your training tonight. I've seen three of them, but there might be more. Don't let them grab you. I'll hold them off while you get inside and warn the others."
Numbed by the strange sensations coursing through her, Max drunkenly nuzzled his ear in return to ask, "What do you think they want?"
"Don't know, but we're gonna find out cause here they come. You ready?"
Her breathless 'yes' exhaled into his ear. He stifled a sharp breath of his own when her body tensed and slid against his in preparation to respond to his urgent instructions. "Ah…okay." He fought conflicting primal urges and forced himself into combat mode. "Um… Break to your left on three. One. Two. Three!"
They pivoted away from each other. Max towards the terrace entrance, Terry towards the approaching hooded figures.
Her path blocked by a menacing form, Maxine unconsciously dropped into the defensive stance she had been taught. She was glad the man's face was covered. It kept her concentration on his movements and not distracted by what the features of a possible killer looked like.
In what seemed like only seconds, her opponent was lying motionless on the ground with her standing over him. She tempered the thrill of finally using her new abilities for a real purpose by rightfully figuring the guy hadn't expected her to be a threat. A sign that whoever these guys were, they weren't well trained. That still didn't mean she would be as lucky next time. Despite the dire situation, the triumphant feeling bursting inside had her crowing out loud, "Not bad for someone wearing high heels."
Her dress wrapped around her legs as she whirled to race for the doors and finish her assigned task, but again she was halted. All cheer disappeared at sight of Terry crouched between two downed, black-clad intruders and another standing over him with an already bloody knife poised to descend.
Without much conscious thought, Max removed one of her dangerously spiked heels and pitched it at Terry's attacker. The shoe landed a square hit on the hooded figure's head, distracting him. Terry surged up from his crouch to shoulder a weighted blow into the guy. He plowed them both through the gardens until a heavy metal trellis finally brought them to a slamming halt. They poised there for a few seconds before Terry staggered back and the other slid limply to the ground.
Maxine saw Terry bend forward, one hand reaching out to clutch the damaged trellis for support. His other hand pressed against his side where bright red blood oozed between fingers and darkened his white dress shirt
.
"Damn," she hissed in shock. She shook herself and rushed towards him, pausing to grab her stray shoe and slide it onto her foot. Quickly unclasping the decorative shawl from around her shoulders, she began to fold it. By the time she was beside him it was shaped into a thick pad.
"Here," she muttered pushing his hand away to slide the pad in place. Firmly, she pressed it over the wound.
Terry sucked in a ragged gasp, trellis rattling as he sagged against it. She reached up a free arm to steady him, noting his pained face had lost all color.
"Sorry Terr," she said worriedly. "But we've got to stop the bleeding."
"Do you have to kill the patient to do it?" He ground out between gritted teeth, "Geez Max…ease up."
"Not until--"
A piercing scream, coming from inside the mansion, filled the air. Their heads snapped towards the terrace doors, but they were unable to see inside because of their sharp, angled viewpoint. Silence followed and seconds later a crescendo of verbal outrage and panic rolled out into the night.
Terry pushed away from the trellis, "Bind it up with something. I've got to go."
"You're not thinking of playing hero in this condition?"
"It's not as bad as it looks," he replied while hastily loosening the knotted tie at his throat. "Just a flesh wound."
She snorted in resigned amusement. His guts could be hanging out and he'd call it a flesh wound. Trying to reason with him wouldn't work. This type of scenario had been played out too often in the past and every time he did it his way. As long as his mind controlled his body he would keep going. Still, she felt duty bound to try and stop him.
"You'll bleed to death before you even get the suit on." Max continued to protest though she helped him loop the tie around his waist to bind the pad in place.
"Not if you get it tight enou--aarrgh!" Again the trellis shook as his weight settled against it.
"How's that?" Max asked sweetly as she finished cinching the pad in place with a little more force than was perhaps necessary. This might be the least he'd be hurting before he was done being the hero tonight.
He managed to send her an evil look while trying not to writhe from the pain. "Sadist," he muttered between hitching breaths.
"Probably," she agreed evenly, her experienced gaze registering the status of his condition. Color was already returning to his face. He'd be all right. She had seen him function with a lot worse. "Comes with the territory. How are you going to get to the suit?"
The batsuit was tucked neatly away in Terry's briefcase which he had surrendered to a concierge before entering the ballroom. As he had reluctantly handed it over he renewed his determination to find a more unobtrusive way of keeping the suit with him at all times. Hard to believe Bruce hadn't come up with something better by now.
"The same way I always do," he grumbled as he straightened his bloody mangled shirt over the pad. "With my legs."
"Let me get it for you. That'll give the bleeding more time to stop."
"Wasted time."
"I knew you were going to say that," she said bending over a bordered lawn edge to wipe his blood from her hands. The garish smear of red on the green grass made her grimace. How much of Terry's blood had been spilled across Gotham since he had donned the costume? Probably no where close to the amount Bruce had shed. "What do you want me to do?"
"Find something to tie these guys up with. That'll be four less threats we'll have to worry about."
"Right." The intent had already crossed Max's mind. Her gaze had been searching around for something she could use to get the job done as he had spoken. It had located a coil of twine and clippers stowed beneath a nearby bench. "Anything else?"
"We don't know what we're up against. Just stay safe for now."
"Safe. While you get to have all the fun." She was shamelessly baiting him, knowing well that what Batman did was anything but fun. Her faint hope was to stall him for another minute and give the wound time to coagulate. "When is it going to be my turn?"
"Never, if it's up to me."
"God," Max rolled her eyes, more angry that she couldn't slow his intent than about his comment. "You sound just like him. Now I understand why the Jokerz call you 'No Fun Boy'."
"Max." Terry grimaced at her familiar nagging desire to be a part of the action. "Save it for Bruce okay? I gotta go." He fastened the final button on his dress coat as he hurried towards the doors and the continued sounds of chaos from within the mansion.
"Their clothes don't match," she blurted out after his retreating figure.
She shouldn't have. She should have just let him go and do his thing. The people inside needed help and Batman could do it. He was here now, when even if the police were alerted to the situation it would take them time to arrive. Time that could save lives. But she doubted he'd have an easy time getting to the suit. It sounded like a madhouse in there and even if the wound wasn't bad, it would slow him down some. And oh--why was it getting harder dealing with Batman's life instead of easier? It wouldn't be so bad if she could work beside him instead of---
Small relief filled her when he stopped and pivoted towards her, irritation in his voice,
"What?"
"Look at the clothing they're wearing. It's mostly a hodgepodge of anything dark. Even the masks are different."
Terry looked down at the scattered figures. "So… you're thinking this might not be a very …organized operation?"
She nodded. "And they're sloppy. I sure don't think--I--could have taken down a professional so easily."
Terry shot an intense gaze at her, a slow, mysterious smile erasing the tension from his face. She had no idea how capable she was. As back-up she was getting closer to Bruce's level of competence. Now, in the field, seeing her using her new training in real life had sent a surge of admiration and pride through him. Preoccupied watching out for her was the reason one of those goons had managed to slice him. She'd berate him mercilessly if she knew so he kept the knowledge to himself, along with his opinions of her abilities.
"Whoa…Max Gibson sounding humble? Guess miracles do happen."
He was gone before she had time to react to the offhand comment. Pushing it to the back of her mind, Max set about tying up the criminals. She had three of them trussed up securely before the fourth returned to consciousness and grabbed her unsuspecting form from behind. Arms trapped against her sides in a powerful bear hug and struggling to breath, Max was unable to resist as he dragged her into the noisy mansion ballroom.
It was chaos inside. Elegantly attired people were yelling and screaming and running around trying to avoid the hooded invaders who were attempting to round them up. Max glimpsed uniformed security guards scattered around the perimeters, confusion clear on their expressions and in the wavering aim of their raised weapons. She caught sight of the Governor and his wife, surrounded by thick numbers of his personal protection, disappearing out one of the ballroom doors.