Oh, Bruce. I realize you are in pain, but you're not the only one. I realize Selina is gone, but there are other people who still need you. Laura shook her head as she pulled out her phone and pressed some numbers from memory.

"Alfred, it's Laura. Can you do me a favor? Bruce took off and I need to see how things turn out with Barbara. I can't keep Helena here, I am afraid it is too much for her to handle. Can you come take her to my apartment?"

"Of course, Miss Laura. I am here in the limo. Master Bruce thought you might be calling me. I will be right in."

"Thanks Alfred." Laura hung up the phone as Helena returned from the vending machines. She still had most of the money Laura had given to her, but she no longer cried.

Laura leaned down so she could look in to Helena's eyes. She could feel the pain that this kitten was feeling. "Helena I need to stay at the hospital for a while. I have a friend who is going to come and get you and take you to my place. You will be ok there." Helena was to exhaust to argue.

Laura saw Alfred as he walked in the door. She motioned for Alfred to join them. "Helena, this is Alfred. Alfred, this is Helena."

"Hello, Miss. Nice to meet you." Alfred could tell she was feeling bad and he tried to be friendly. Helena made no response.

"I will be back as soon as I can." Laura handed over the purple key off of the key ring. "Make yourself at home. She can sleep on my bed, and there is plenty of food in the fridge. Oh, Alfred, Sammy my cat, should have been delivered by now, but I will call and tell him to stay out of your way. You shouldn't have any problems with him." Laura leaned over to give Helena a hug, which she didn't respond to. "It will be ok Helena." Laura watched them walk out the door. Helena slowly followed Alfred.

Laura dialed the number for her apartment and waited for the answering machine to pick up. "Hi Sammy. I know your there. Listen Alfred and Helena are on their way over. She is a very upset kitten so try to stay out of the way when they come. Seeing you before I introduce you may scare her. Oh and make sure they got the freezer door shut when your meat was delivered. Love you."

Laura walked over to the nurse's station. "Excuse me, could you tell me where Barbara Gordon is."

"ICU/surgery, fifth floor." Stated a young blonde nurse who kept popping her gum.

Laura got on the elevator and pressed the five. Please hang in there Barbara. Helena still needs you. She can't loose you as well as Selina.

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Laura stepped off the elevator and walked towards the surgery desk. "Excuse me, my friend, Barbara Gordon is here. Can you tell me her condition?"

"If you're not family I am not supposed to tell you anything, but she is still in surgery." The nurse was very polite and told Laura that much.

"Laura?"

At the sound of her name, Laura turned around and saw Barbara's father, Mr. Gordon. He looked very worried and tired. Laura guessed he had been here for some time.

"Mr. Gordon. How are you? I am so sorry to hear about Babs. Is she ok?" Laura looked sympathetically into his eyes.

"She has been in surgery for five hours now. She lost a lot of blood and the bullet did damage to her uterus, and spine. They called in a specialist to try and fix as much as possible, but they honestly don't know." He turned from her and lowered his head.

Laura placed a hand on his shoulder. "She is a strong woman, a fighter. We just have to keep hoping she will be ok."

Laura offered to get some coffee and went to find a vending machine. She returned to sit with Mr. Gordon till news of Barbara's surgery came.

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Laura had fallen asleep on Mr. Gordon's shoulder, when he gently shook her awake. "Here comes the doctor."

Laura and Mr. Gordon stood up to greet the tired looking doctor. He motioned for them to sit and he pulled up a chair.

"We have done everything we could. She will live." Mr. Gordon released a sigh of relief. "I am afraid though she will never be able to walk again or have children. The damage was too great. We did all we could. She will be able to have bladder control, and with enough practice she will able to throw over her hips to roll over. I am truly sorry." The doctor started to leave and remembered something else. "She is sleeping right now, but the nurse can show you to her room."

Laura and Mr. Gordon soaked in what the doctor said. Mr. Gordon grabbed Laura's hand and pulled her up. "We should go visit her."

"But I am not family. I can't go in." Laura wanted to, but she knew the rules.

"You are more family than anyone has ever been to my daughter. You and your cousin were both like family to me and my wife. Barbara needs you by her side. I will get you in." With that he marched towards the desk and argued with the nurse and doctor till they gave in.

He smiled and walked back to Laura. "Your in. You can come and visit whenever you want. Now lets go."

Laura and Mr. Gordon headed down the bleak hall. Laura looked through some of the windows and saw family members sitting in chairs next to loved ones. They held hands as they pleaded for them to wake up. Mr. Gordon stopped in front of room 524. He placed a shaky hand on the door and turned the knob.

The lighting was dim, but with Laura's advanced sight she could make out Barbara's beautiful red hair on the pillow. Mr. Gordon walked towards the bed as Laura turned the light on.

Barbara was hooked up to several machines that were making noises. The heart monitor showed her steady heartbeat. Her face was pale from the blood loss. Her hair was a little damp from the sweat. Mr. Gordon held her hand in his and started to talk to her.

Laura moved beside her and whispered in her ear. "Hang in there. Helena needs you." She wrote her phone number on a piece of paper and gave it to Mr. Gordon.

"Call if there is any change. I will stop in when I can." She hugged him and headed for home.