Callie was working with Lotus-Killer in her Lab. It was fascinating really. It was such a powerful antidote, due to the powerful hallucinogen it combated. She was hoping that perhaps in a varying form it could be used to help people who suffered from delusions, schizophrenia, and other ailments. Normally Callie stuck with genetics, but in this case she was branching out. She saw great potential in this research. Even if it took years to truly find the answers hidden within, she was willing to devote that time. She thought back to her kiss with Batman the night before. It had certainly stirred up something inside of her. The same as when Bruce had kissed her hand. How odd was it that two totally unalike men could bring out the same feelings within her. The only thing those two had in common was their innate sexiness.

It had been a long day, and Callie began putting her samples away. She would head home, grab a bite to eat, and settle in for the evening. It was something she was looking forward to.

"So, I finally see the mad scientist at work." She turned to find Bruce leaning against the door jamb. He looked like an advertisement for a magazine.

She smiled radiantly at him. "Hello Bruce, how are you this evening?"

"I'm good. You look a bit tired." He said. She looked worn out and he found himself worried about her. Especially, since her recent hospital stay. He strolled forward casually with his hands in his pockets, and leaned his hip against her lab table.

"Hmm, that's the case too I'm afraid. It's been a long week, and a long day on top of that." She finished putting her equipment away, and turned to face him. "Was there something I could help you with?"

"Actually, I was coming to see if you'd like to join me for dinner at the manor? Alfred has been asking after you." He said loftily.

"I do like Alfred. I think dinner would be fabulous as long as you aren't expecting scintillating conversation."

"We'll take it easy on you tonight. I'll carry our conversation." He told her with a smile. "My driver can take us, and then he can see you home after, if that's all right with you?" She agreed and they left quickly after.

On the ride to the manor Callie rested her head against the seat, and sighed. Then she looked at Bruce. "How are you feeling? I'm sorry I didn't call before. I heard about Greco. It must have been horrible." She told him with a frown marring her lovely face.

"I'm fine, could have been worse. Thankfully there was someone there to help me." He said lightly.

"Batman?" she asked. "He's the one that found me when I passed out you know? I hope I'll get to thank him one day."

"I had heard that. You need to take care of yourself. However it wasn't Batman. It was a woman. She calls herself The Seer from what I understand. I guess she's been doing good around Gotham for a while now."

"A woman? How odd." She said still frowning. "I wonder where she came from."

"No one seems to know. I've only seen her once."

They pulled up the drive to the manor, and Bruce helped her out of the vehicle, and up the stone steps. He escorted her inside and Alfred greeted them at the door. "Good evening Ms. Hughes." He said smiling.

"Alfred, I thought I asked you to call me Callie?" she teased.

"Of course Ms. Callie." He grinned. "How are you feeling? You look a bit peaked."

"Oh Alfred." She sighed. "I'm tired, but other than that I'm doing well.

She and Bruce sat down to dinner of lobster bisque, which was one of her favorites, fresh green salad, and seafood with pasta and alfredo sauce. He kept his promise and as they ate, and partook of a glass of wine each, he talked to her of day to day simple things, his estate, and some of his childhood. Callie found it to be most relaxing, and enjoyable.
She also found herself sharing some of her childhood memories with him. Here was someone she could tell about the loss of her parents and he understood. He didn't make false sympathetic noises. He just got it. After a light dessert of chocolate soufflé they made their way into his study.

Callie made her way over to a mock up of the city's transit system. Bruce was in the process of rebuilding it from the destruction the year before. "This is the model for the new system?" she asked as she approached it.

"Yes." He joined her looking at it. "It was important to my father, and it's important to me. I remember the last day we were together him telling me how important it was."

She smiled up at him. "I agree with him. I think it's a fabulous thing Bruce. It was terrible what it had become for so many years, especially for what it was supposed to mean to this city. I think that what you build will be a great value to Gotham. I didn't know your parents, but I'm sure they'd be proud of who you are." Callie laid her hand on Bruce's arm.

Bruce turned towards the beautiful woman and slowly lowered his lips to hers. He hesitated not knowing if this would be what she wanted. She lifted onto her toes to reach him and touched her lips to his. He pulled her close to him, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Callie buried one of her hands into his thick hair, and the other wound around his nape. For both of them it felt like the world was spinning. Everything that was tilted in their reality felt as if it had been set to rights. When they broke apart their eyes met, and a glimmer of recognition struck them both, but whatever little niggle was in the back of their minds refused to show them the truth. Thinking it their first kiss, and both hoped for many more, neither realized they'd kissed once before under different guises.