The steep, sweeping steps leading into Gotham City Hall were no hindrance to Terry McGinnis as he climbed them two and three at a time without even a catch in his breathing. Nor did he slow his pace while blazing a path through the long, crowded halls to the main city council room. Security at the entrance doors stopped him long enough to study his identification and allowed him to proceed in.
The huge, shiny conference table was the centerpiece of the simply decorated room. Persons of all different sizes and shapes were staggered around, either sitting beside it or standing in huddled private discussion with each other. Terry sighted Bruce in a far-off corner, head cocked in a listening pose as Barbara Gordon talked beside him.
They both looked up as he approached. Barbara acknowledged him with her usual nod and said, a measure of sympathy in her tone.
"I'm sorry to hear about your mother. How is she?"
"The doctors say she'll be fine. I guess it was the flu plus whatever it is that's hitting Gotham. The combination was too much for her to handle."
"Sounds like she was one of the lucky ones. I think the mortality rate of this phenomenon will end up being more than any of us imagined by the time it's all over."
"Yeah." Terry muttered, looking down at his feet.
Barbara got the distinct feeling he was blaming himself for what was happening in the city. Obviously he still had not come to terms with his separation from Batman, who was supposed to be able to save everybody.
Bruce was certain the inexplicable pull of the cowl would bring him back to it, but she was not so sure. It wasn't just Al Ghul's torture session that had knocked the young man off his righteous path of crime fighting. That would have been too simple. No, it went deeper. Most likely the same problem she had sensed from him before all this happened.
A flicker of movement near the entrance yanked her from her reverie. Mayor Jake Reads had finally decided to make his appearance. The small, energetic man paused to acknowledge the people he met on the way to his position at the table. His gregarious front covered a no-nonsense approach that sometimes rubbed his constituents the wrong way. Barbara had butted heads with him a few times in the past, but she could not fault the loyalty and good intention he brought to his office.
Before moving to her place at the table, she had a question that needed asking. "You were there Terry. Right in the middle of -- whatever it was. You've been trained by the best to be an objective observer. Can you tell me anything that happened then that hasn't been reported before?"
Terry shook his head. "Sorry Commish. From all I've heard, what happened to me was similar to what everyone else felt. A general feeling of weakness, like when you're really tired. It seemed to get worse after awhile, then suddenly I didn't feel it anymore. But by then all the damage was done. I know the guy I was helping didn't make it."
"Okay." Barbara gave a solemn nod. "If anything else comes to mind let me know."
"Sure."
"Looks like the meeting's ready to begin." She took a deep breath and moved to her seat.
Terry lifted the briefcase he was carrying, towards Bruce. "You want the information now?"
"It may not be needed. Wait until I ask for it."
Terry nodded and followed Bruce to a different section, stepping back to lean against the wall as his mentor seated himself. Gradually order was brought to the room, every seat at the table filled, with numerous extras like Terry, posed against the wall.
An expectant quiet filled the room for a moment before Mayor Reads cleared his throat and began.
"This meeting has been called to address the alarming problems plaguing Gotham and to declare a possible emergency status. Each of you will have a chance to voice your gathered information and opinions regarding this situation. Let's start with you Ryan."
Head of Sanitation/Grounds, Ryan Trash, straightened in his chair. The seriousness of the moment kept him from repeating his lame, trademark joke about not getting into the business because of his name. "What I have to say won't sound like much compared to what's going on, but I think it's significant. One of the earlier places where the trouble started was at City Park. There's this tree there--really old--rooted long before Gotham started surrounding it." Seeing the wry looks of amusement around the table made him hesitate to continue.
"I know it." Bruce's deep gravelly voice entered the pause Ryan had left. "A blue spruce, almost eighty feet high. The park was originally established there as a measure to protect it."
"That's right. And last year when the arborists checked it they claimed it was in great shape, probably good to grow for another fifty years maybe. Now--all of a sudden it's dying. And they don't know why. And it's not just that tree. A lot of others are showing signs of stress--dropping buds early and looking sick when they do leaf out. All the plantlife in that area is in rough shape and no one knows why."
A short silence ensued while they waited for Ryan to say more. Bruce again prompted the usually quiet man before the mayor could move on to the next member.
"Something else you'd like to add?"
"Animals." Ryan blurted out as if embarrassed. "Dogs, squirrels, birds--they don't like going into that area. I've been swamped with calls from pet owners who want to know what's going on. That used to be the favorite place for them to walk and now their dogs put up such a fuss, they don't go anymore."
Barbara entered the dialogue. "We've been getting the same kind of complaints in those areas. With people, one could say it was a simple case of superstition. But animals aren't influenced by something like that. Their reactions happen on an instinctive level, so whatever they're sensing is real."
"There is definitely something going on with the animals." Doris Lateef, representative from the city council and veterinarian by trade, spoke up strongly. Though big-boned and muscular looking, her voice reflected gentleness. "Our clinic has seen a major upswing of cases. Owners bring their pets in because they don't understand the reason for their strange behavior. So far, we have found nothing physically wrong that would make them act in such manner. But older and already ill animals that were caught in an affected area have shown signs of extreme stress, with many of them succumbing to it."
Dr. David McFee, the soft-spoken senior city medical examiner, was quick to agree, "It's the same with the human aspect. The elderly and persons already stressed by previous illness, whether chronic or otherwise have been most affected by this phenomenon. And sadly, just as Doris has described, the casualties are increasing the longer this goes on."
"It's not just illness causing casualties." Jack Shah, commissioner of the Gotham Fire Department added solemnly. "Accidents have increased tenfold in those--areas--that have been hit. Most people claim they don't know what happened. All of them say they started feeling a strange sort of weakness--so bad that they couldn't keep doing whatever it was they were doing. We've had drivers lose control of their vehicles because they didn't have the strength to steer, which in turn caused multiple crashes. Numerous pedestrians have collapsed, some as they were crossing the street. Vendor carts have caught fire because the owners pass out and there's no one to keep the food from burning. I could go on and on, but we're probably all aware of what's going on out there." The gruff edge to the retirement age veteran's voice mixed resignation with subdued anxiety. Dealing with the unexplainable made him uncomfortable.
"And those same things, which are not public knowledge, are happening elsewhere." The doctor interjected. "Gotham General was one hospital caught in the phenom. During that time surgeries were being performed and as you might surmise, they did not finish well. Surgeons and nurses, in good health mind you, were overcome by weakness and found it difficult to do their jobs properly. If we only knew when and where this--phenomenon--would hit, we could work around it."
"First we need to learn what it is." Bruce stated to the suddenly quiet group. "Once again Mayor Reads, I want you to know that the facilities of WayneTech are completely at your disposal to help solve this mystery."
"Thank you Mr. Wayne." Reads allowed a gracious nod in Bruce's direction then looked to the medical examiner. "What steps have been taken so far David, to discover the source of the problem."
"We've been testing the air, water, soil and victim's blood samples for anything--a pathogen, bacteria, etceteras--that could cause these symptoms. So far there has been nothing unusual in any of our findings to steer us into an even probable theory."
"At this point do we need to go outside the resources of the city to find answers?"
"We still have a number of options to explore, but I would say if we can't find anything in a day or so that that would be definitely called for."
"All right. Barbara would--"
"I'd like to inject some information, if I may?" Troy Damul, council representative and devoted follower of the former mayor whose term was noted for his outspoken dislike for Batman, raised a pudgy hand. Reads nodded an affirmative.
"I think the fact that this all started around the time of Batman's disappearance is significant. Is it a possibility that he's involved?"
"I don't understand the connection." Reads said. "I've always considered Batman one of the good guys."
"I'm sure there are a large number of citizens who would debate that issue with you sir. His motives haven't always been clearly defined."
Barbara kept the smirk from her face with an effort. She kept an even tighter hold on her mouth. Damul was always looking for a fight. And with Batman as subject matter he usually got one from somewhere. Shifting her gaze subtly, she noted that neither Bruce or Terry showed signs of upset.
Reads countered patiently, "Perhaps you'll clarify his motives in this matter then?"
Damul leaned his bulky form forward, eager to express his thoughts. "If he's as human as anyone else then isn't it possible he could succumb to the seduction of power and wealth? Isn't it possible he could have gone in league with some criminal element, that is so prevalent in this city, to gain control of it?"
Surprisingly, a loud amused scoff erupted from Trash. "You oughta be writing fiction novels Troy. You've got a wild imagination. Batman's done nothing but good around here and I, for one, am sorry he's gone."
"You're entitled to your opinion, but--"
"I'm sorry Mr. Damul. Unless you have some solid evidence to support your theory, it won't be discussed any further here."
"But--"
"Barbara--" Reads turned his head towards the police commissioner. "How is the department coping with this situation?"
The meeting ended almost an hour later, after which Mayor Reads held a media conference and relayed his assurance that he was well aware of the situation occurring in Gotham and saw no cause for alarm at this point. He was firm in declaring that they were taking positive steps to find the source of the problem and had no doubt they would succeed in eliminating it.
*****
The car was quiet as Terry chauffeured Bruce back to the mansion. Terry broke the silence while turning onto the winding drive that led home by saying simply, "This isn't an organic problem."
Bruce subdued a small thrill. Not once since his abduction had Terry expressed any sign that he was contemplating the situation plaguing Gotham. Not once had he stepped foot in the cave and in fact avoided the library as if it didn't even exist. Was this a sign that Terry was ready to emerge from the cocoon he had wrapped himself in?
Bruce sincerely hoped so. There was no doubt in his mind that Gotham needed Batman as much as Terry needed to be Batman. There was no telling inflection when he answered, "Depends on what you mean by organic."
"The bouts of weakness--they don't have a medical origin."
"Not any that Tim and I have been able to find. We do have a couple of other theories though. If you're interested I--"
"No." Terry cut him off quickly. "I'm not."
Bruce turned his head to watch the passing scenery and to keep his small grin hidden from Terry. No matter how long it took for the next one to come, this little step indicated that Batman was finding his way back.
***********************
Amurst was irresistible on a beautiful spring day and many of its citizens had pushed aside routine to bask in the glory of it. Maxine Gibson and Travis Whitfield, two among those many, are out on a Tuesday afternoon picnic. If anyone happened to study the couple they could easily notice that the male half was struggling with cheerful diligence to raise the spirits of the female portion.
Max laughed and bantered in all the right places to Travis' antics, not wanting to spoil the wonderful day, but she knew he was not fooled. She had grown to care a lot for Travis over the last months, but homesickness and unfinished business with another man she cared about, kept her from enjoying his company fully.
A day rarely passed without her thinking of Terry's situation. She had spent a good chunk of her free time researching Al Guhl. The information left her sleepless some nights thinking about how that madman was still alive after all those years and loose at this very moment in Gotham creating trouble. Bruce had no doubts that the problems Gotham was experiencing were caused by Al Guhl.
She wondered often how two minds could exist in a single body and what a lurid thought that was. She kept picturing a body with two heads -- father and daughter -- forever inseparable. Max shuddered. No wonder Terry was freaked out after what he'd been through.
It had been over a week ago that she had called Bruce to see how things were back 'home'. A monthly routine she had developed since coming to Amurst to ease her conscience and make her life more bearable. Bruce had never given any indication that he minded the intrusion and in fact usually imparted more information to her than she would have dared asked for. This last communication was heavily laden with talk of the mysterious sickness that had hit Gotham and his concern for Terry's unbusiness-like behaviour, which concluded with him stunning her with the asking of a favor.
The smile faded from Travis' rugged face as he saw the faraway look come back into Max's eyes. "Okay," he sighed heavily. "I'll give up this round. Score another one for him."
A flush deepened the tone across Max's sienna colored cheeks, along with a guilty expression. "Would you not say that please. I've just been a little homesick lately. My mood has nothing to do with a 'him'."
"So my feeling of jealousy is totally unfounded?" Travis had a knowing grin quirking the corner of his mouth.
"Yes. Absolutely. Terry was never more than a friend. A good friend, but just a friend."
Travis nodded sagely. "You're going to hate me for asking this, but-- what are we Max? Just friends? Good friends? Or what I'm hoping you'll say-- more than friends?"
"Travis," there was warning in her voice.
Travis threw up his hands in mock defense and smiled. "Forgive the whining of a desperate man sweetheart. It's just that these last few months with you have been incredible. I don't want what we have together to end, but I feel like it's beginning to. You're slipping away from me Maxine. I don't like it, but I can live with it if there's no other choice. That's what I need you to tell me. If there's anything I can do to keep us together tell me what it is."
Max shook her head. "I wish you wouldn't talk like that."
"I didn't want to say it but... I can't help feeling for the last while that you're not telling me something."
She looked away and ran a hand unnecessarily through her glossy, tinted locks. "My old boss has asked me to help him with a project, back in Gotham." Large eyes met his waiting gaze. "I said I would do it."
Travis' eyes widened. "So I wasn't even in the game anymore," he replied ruefully, trying to soften the hint of bitterness with a grin. "Or maybe I never was in it in the first place."
"Would you stop that please." Max grinned, reaching over to cup his face with both hands. "This has nothing to do with us. He needs my help and I... I'm just... a little homesick. I miss Gotham. Amurst is a great place, but... it's not Gotham. It's too quiet, the people are too nice, the air is too clean and the atmosphere is too happily-- mundane."
Travis' expression shifted into comical dorkiness, voice taking on an exaggerated twang. "Golly gee Miz Gibson. We shore do feel honored when you city folk come round and visit our little town. You make us feel all humble inside."
Max laughed at his country bumpkin imitation and slapped at his shoulder to make him stop. He laughed with her, relieved to hear it was genuine. From the first day he met her he had sensed a depth to this woman that could not be hidden behind her cool, poised exterior. Constant, careful attention on his part had revealed a small portion of it that had only made him eager to expose and be the recipient of even more of her mysterious personality.
"It's not a permanent position Travis. A mere six weeks and I'll be back here before you even have a chance to miss me."
"Promise?" He leaned close enough to kiss, his soft voice resonating with warmth.
"Promise." She murmured and closed the distance between their lips.
*************************************
The huge, shiny conference table was the centerpiece of the simply decorated room. Persons of all different sizes and shapes were staggered around, either sitting beside it or standing in huddled private discussion with each other. Terry sighted Bruce in a far-off corner, head cocked in a listening pose as Barbara Gordon talked beside him.
They both looked up as he approached. Barbara acknowledged him with her usual nod and said, a measure of sympathy in her tone.
"I'm sorry to hear about your mother. How is she?"
"The doctors say she'll be fine. I guess it was the flu plus whatever it is that's hitting Gotham. The combination was too much for her to handle."
"Sounds like she was one of the lucky ones. I think the mortality rate of this phenomenon will end up being more than any of us imagined by the time it's all over."
"Yeah." Terry muttered, looking down at his feet.
Barbara got the distinct feeling he was blaming himself for what was happening in the city. Obviously he still had not come to terms with his separation from Batman, who was supposed to be able to save everybody.
Bruce was certain the inexplicable pull of the cowl would bring him back to it, but she was not so sure. It wasn't just Al Ghul's torture session that had knocked the young man off his righteous path of crime fighting. That would have been too simple. No, it went deeper. Most likely the same problem she had sensed from him before all this happened.
A flicker of movement near the entrance yanked her from her reverie. Mayor Jake Reads had finally decided to make his appearance. The small, energetic man paused to acknowledge the people he met on the way to his position at the table. His gregarious front covered a no-nonsense approach that sometimes rubbed his constituents the wrong way. Barbara had butted heads with him a few times in the past, but she could not fault the loyalty and good intention he brought to his office.
Before moving to her place at the table, she had a question that needed asking. "You were there Terry. Right in the middle of -- whatever it was. You've been trained by the best to be an objective observer. Can you tell me anything that happened then that hasn't been reported before?"
Terry shook his head. "Sorry Commish. From all I've heard, what happened to me was similar to what everyone else felt. A general feeling of weakness, like when you're really tired. It seemed to get worse after awhile, then suddenly I didn't feel it anymore. But by then all the damage was done. I know the guy I was helping didn't make it."
"Okay." Barbara gave a solemn nod. "If anything else comes to mind let me know."
"Sure."
"Looks like the meeting's ready to begin." She took a deep breath and moved to her seat.
Terry lifted the briefcase he was carrying, towards Bruce. "You want the information now?"
"It may not be needed. Wait until I ask for it."
Terry nodded and followed Bruce to a different section, stepping back to lean against the wall as his mentor seated himself. Gradually order was brought to the room, every seat at the table filled, with numerous extras like Terry, posed against the wall.
An expectant quiet filled the room for a moment before Mayor Reads cleared his throat and began.
"This meeting has been called to address the alarming problems plaguing Gotham and to declare a possible emergency status. Each of you will have a chance to voice your gathered information and opinions regarding this situation. Let's start with you Ryan."
Head of Sanitation/Grounds, Ryan Trash, straightened in his chair. The seriousness of the moment kept him from repeating his lame, trademark joke about not getting into the business because of his name. "What I have to say won't sound like much compared to what's going on, but I think it's significant. One of the earlier places where the trouble started was at City Park. There's this tree there--really old--rooted long before Gotham started surrounding it." Seeing the wry looks of amusement around the table made him hesitate to continue.
"I know it." Bruce's deep gravelly voice entered the pause Ryan had left. "A blue spruce, almost eighty feet high. The park was originally established there as a measure to protect it."
"That's right. And last year when the arborists checked it they claimed it was in great shape, probably good to grow for another fifty years maybe. Now--all of a sudden it's dying. And they don't know why. And it's not just that tree. A lot of others are showing signs of stress--dropping buds early and looking sick when they do leaf out. All the plantlife in that area is in rough shape and no one knows why."
A short silence ensued while they waited for Ryan to say more. Bruce again prompted the usually quiet man before the mayor could move on to the next member.
"Something else you'd like to add?"
"Animals." Ryan blurted out as if embarrassed. "Dogs, squirrels, birds--they don't like going into that area. I've been swamped with calls from pet owners who want to know what's going on. That used to be the favorite place for them to walk and now their dogs put up such a fuss, they don't go anymore."
Barbara entered the dialogue. "We've been getting the same kind of complaints in those areas. With people, one could say it was a simple case of superstition. But animals aren't influenced by something like that. Their reactions happen on an instinctive level, so whatever they're sensing is real."
"There is definitely something going on with the animals." Doris Lateef, representative from the city council and veterinarian by trade, spoke up strongly. Though big-boned and muscular looking, her voice reflected gentleness. "Our clinic has seen a major upswing of cases. Owners bring their pets in because they don't understand the reason for their strange behavior. So far, we have found nothing physically wrong that would make them act in such manner. But older and already ill animals that were caught in an affected area have shown signs of extreme stress, with many of them succumbing to it."
Dr. David McFee, the soft-spoken senior city medical examiner, was quick to agree, "It's the same with the human aspect. The elderly and persons already stressed by previous illness, whether chronic or otherwise have been most affected by this phenomenon. And sadly, just as Doris has described, the casualties are increasing the longer this goes on."
"It's not just illness causing casualties." Jack Shah, commissioner of the Gotham Fire Department added solemnly. "Accidents have increased tenfold in those--areas--that have been hit. Most people claim they don't know what happened. All of them say they started feeling a strange sort of weakness--so bad that they couldn't keep doing whatever it was they were doing. We've had drivers lose control of their vehicles because they didn't have the strength to steer, which in turn caused multiple crashes. Numerous pedestrians have collapsed, some as they were crossing the street. Vendor carts have caught fire because the owners pass out and there's no one to keep the food from burning. I could go on and on, but we're probably all aware of what's going on out there." The gruff edge to the retirement age veteran's voice mixed resignation with subdued anxiety. Dealing with the unexplainable made him uncomfortable.
"And those same things, which are not public knowledge, are happening elsewhere." The doctor interjected. "Gotham General was one hospital caught in the phenom. During that time surgeries were being performed and as you might surmise, they did not finish well. Surgeons and nurses, in good health mind you, were overcome by weakness and found it difficult to do their jobs properly. If we only knew when and where this--phenomenon--would hit, we could work around it."
"First we need to learn what it is." Bruce stated to the suddenly quiet group. "Once again Mayor Reads, I want you to know that the facilities of WayneTech are completely at your disposal to help solve this mystery."
"Thank you Mr. Wayne." Reads allowed a gracious nod in Bruce's direction then looked to the medical examiner. "What steps have been taken so far David, to discover the source of the problem."
"We've been testing the air, water, soil and victim's blood samples for anything--a pathogen, bacteria, etceteras--that could cause these symptoms. So far there has been nothing unusual in any of our findings to steer us into an even probable theory."
"At this point do we need to go outside the resources of the city to find answers?"
"We still have a number of options to explore, but I would say if we can't find anything in a day or so that that would be definitely called for."
"All right. Barbara would--"
"I'd like to inject some information, if I may?" Troy Damul, council representative and devoted follower of the former mayor whose term was noted for his outspoken dislike for Batman, raised a pudgy hand. Reads nodded an affirmative.
"I think the fact that this all started around the time of Batman's disappearance is significant. Is it a possibility that he's involved?"
"I don't understand the connection." Reads said. "I've always considered Batman one of the good guys."
"I'm sure there are a large number of citizens who would debate that issue with you sir. His motives haven't always been clearly defined."
Barbara kept the smirk from her face with an effort. She kept an even tighter hold on her mouth. Damul was always looking for a fight. And with Batman as subject matter he usually got one from somewhere. Shifting her gaze subtly, she noted that neither Bruce or Terry showed signs of upset.
Reads countered patiently, "Perhaps you'll clarify his motives in this matter then?"
Damul leaned his bulky form forward, eager to express his thoughts. "If he's as human as anyone else then isn't it possible he could succumb to the seduction of power and wealth? Isn't it possible he could have gone in league with some criminal element, that is so prevalent in this city, to gain control of it?"
Surprisingly, a loud amused scoff erupted from Trash. "You oughta be writing fiction novels Troy. You've got a wild imagination. Batman's done nothing but good around here and I, for one, am sorry he's gone."
"You're entitled to your opinion, but--"
"I'm sorry Mr. Damul. Unless you have some solid evidence to support your theory, it won't be discussed any further here."
"But--"
"Barbara--" Reads turned his head towards the police commissioner. "How is the department coping with this situation?"
The meeting ended almost an hour later, after which Mayor Reads held a media conference and relayed his assurance that he was well aware of the situation occurring in Gotham and saw no cause for alarm at this point. He was firm in declaring that they were taking positive steps to find the source of the problem and had no doubt they would succeed in eliminating it.
*****
The car was quiet as Terry chauffeured Bruce back to the mansion. Terry broke the silence while turning onto the winding drive that led home by saying simply, "This isn't an organic problem."
Bruce subdued a small thrill. Not once since his abduction had Terry expressed any sign that he was contemplating the situation plaguing Gotham. Not once had he stepped foot in the cave and in fact avoided the library as if it didn't even exist. Was this a sign that Terry was ready to emerge from the cocoon he had wrapped himself in?
Bruce sincerely hoped so. There was no doubt in his mind that Gotham needed Batman as much as Terry needed to be Batman. There was no telling inflection when he answered, "Depends on what you mean by organic."
"The bouts of weakness--they don't have a medical origin."
"Not any that Tim and I have been able to find. We do have a couple of other theories though. If you're interested I--"
"No." Terry cut him off quickly. "I'm not."
Bruce turned his head to watch the passing scenery and to keep his small grin hidden from Terry. No matter how long it took for the next one to come, this little step indicated that Batman was finding his way back.
***********************
Amurst was irresistible on a beautiful spring day and many of its citizens had pushed aside routine to bask in the glory of it. Maxine Gibson and Travis Whitfield, two among those many, are out on a Tuesday afternoon picnic. If anyone happened to study the couple they could easily notice that the male half was struggling with cheerful diligence to raise the spirits of the female portion.
Max laughed and bantered in all the right places to Travis' antics, not wanting to spoil the wonderful day, but she knew he was not fooled. She had grown to care a lot for Travis over the last months, but homesickness and unfinished business with another man she cared about, kept her from enjoying his company fully.
A day rarely passed without her thinking of Terry's situation. She had spent a good chunk of her free time researching Al Guhl. The information left her sleepless some nights thinking about how that madman was still alive after all those years and loose at this very moment in Gotham creating trouble. Bruce had no doubts that the problems Gotham was experiencing were caused by Al Guhl.
She wondered often how two minds could exist in a single body and what a lurid thought that was. She kept picturing a body with two heads -- father and daughter -- forever inseparable. Max shuddered. No wonder Terry was freaked out after what he'd been through.
It had been over a week ago that she had called Bruce to see how things were back 'home'. A monthly routine she had developed since coming to Amurst to ease her conscience and make her life more bearable. Bruce had never given any indication that he minded the intrusion and in fact usually imparted more information to her than she would have dared asked for. This last communication was heavily laden with talk of the mysterious sickness that had hit Gotham and his concern for Terry's unbusiness-like behaviour, which concluded with him stunning her with the asking of a favor.
The smile faded from Travis' rugged face as he saw the faraway look come back into Max's eyes. "Okay," he sighed heavily. "I'll give up this round. Score another one for him."
A flush deepened the tone across Max's sienna colored cheeks, along with a guilty expression. "Would you not say that please. I've just been a little homesick lately. My mood has nothing to do with a 'him'."
"So my feeling of jealousy is totally unfounded?" Travis had a knowing grin quirking the corner of his mouth.
"Yes. Absolutely. Terry was never more than a friend. A good friend, but just a friend."
Travis nodded sagely. "You're going to hate me for asking this, but-- what are we Max? Just friends? Good friends? Or what I'm hoping you'll say-- more than friends?"
"Travis," there was warning in her voice.
Travis threw up his hands in mock defense and smiled. "Forgive the whining of a desperate man sweetheart. It's just that these last few months with you have been incredible. I don't want what we have together to end, but I feel like it's beginning to. You're slipping away from me Maxine. I don't like it, but I can live with it if there's no other choice. That's what I need you to tell me. If there's anything I can do to keep us together tell me what it is."
Max shook her head. "I wish you wouldn't talk like that."
"I didn't want to say it but... I can't help feeling for the last while that you're not telling me something."
She looked away and ran a hand unnecessarily through her glossy, tinted locks. "My old boss has asked me to help him with a project, back in Gotham." Large eyes met his waiting gaze. "I said I would do it."
Travis' eyes widened. "So I wasn't even in the game anymore," he replied ruefully, trying to soften the hint of bitterness with a grin. "Or maybe I never was in it in the first place."
"Would you stop that please." Max grinned, reaching over to cup his face with both hands. "This has nothing to do with us. He needs my help and I... I'm just... a little homesick. I miss Gotham. Amurst is a great place, but... it's not Gotham. It's too quiet, the people are too nice, the air is too clean and the atmosphere is too happily-- mundane."
Travis' expression shifted into comical dorkiness, voice taking on an exaggerated twang. "Golly gee Miz Gibson. We shore do feel honored when you city folk come round and visit our little town. You make us feel all humble inside."
Max laughed at his country bumpkin imitation and slapped at his shoulder to make him stop. He laughed with her, relieved to hear it was genuine. From the first day he met her he had sensed a depth to this woman that could not be hidden behind her cool, poised exterior. Constant, careful attention on his part had revealed a small portion of it that had only made him eager to expose and be the recipient of even more of her mysterious personality.
"It's not a permanent position Travis. A mere six weeks and I'll be back here before you even have a chance to miss me."
"Promise?" He leaned close enough to kiss, his soft voice resonating with warmth.
"Promise." She murmured and closed the distance between their lips.
*************************************