Howard tried hard not to cry. Such an unmanly thing to do. But the sight of his beloved business lying in scattered ruins around him was enough to unman even the most manly man---in his estimation. He sniffed and swiped a shirt sleeve roughly across his eyes. The tears started coming so fast that his vision was blurring. Feet crunching over the debris, he found an undamaged, upright chair and plunked down onto it.

Max stepped carefully across the room to place a consoling arm around his shoulder. "Oh, Howard. I know it looks bad right now, but after daylight comes it won't seem so awful."

"You think so?"

"Nah, she's just saying that to make you feel better." Terry drawled from where he sat on the crushed front of Max's car, scrounged drink in hand. Lights from emergency vehicles pulsed in the street behind him. "The place really is a disaster Howie."

"McGinnis." Max glared at him, too tired to hold her temper any longer. "Some friend you are."

"Hey, I'm just helping him face reality."

"Are you sure you qualify for the job?" She retorted with heavy sarcasm, eyes pointed at the glass he held.

He grimaced and hung his head. The phenom had ceased almost an hour ago. The police had come and taken a brief statement from each of them before hurrying back to the streets for the higher priority cases. Since then Terry had become completely slagged. His gut ached and his head was pounding like a pneumatic jackhammer. He didn't really want the drink. He just thought it might ease the symptoms a little. Sliding off the car, he trudged through the piled pieces of Howard's Place to the distraught owner. Squatting beside his old school friend, he did his best to cheer.

"Come on Howie. Max is right. Think about the positives. Like you said before--at least no one got hurt. And it's not like you actually lost the place. You'll just be closed until repairs are made. I'm sure your insurance covers lost income along with the rest."

Howard stared wide-eyed at him for a moment then slapped palms against his face and moaned loudly.

"Oh no. No...no...no!"

Max and Terry shared a confused glance before Max patted Howard's shoulders saying worridly,

"Howie--what's wrong?"

"Insurance! The premium was due last week. I didn't have the money. I figured on paying it at the end of this week. Slag it! My Dad is going to kill me when he finds out!"

"There's usually a grace period for those kinds of things." Max replied calmly now that she understood his distress. "You're probably still covered."

"This was the second notice! I knew I was pushing it. I knew it was a risky thing to do, but I just didn't have the money. You know how bad business has been lately Terry."

"Why didn't you say something?" Terry gaped, surprised by Howard's admission and the stupidity of it. "I could have helped."

Looking angrily at Terry, Howard sprung from his chair. "Believe it or not I do have my pride. And lately you've done a pretty good job of chipping away at it. I know I'm nowhere near your league in the business world, but I'm proud of how I made it this far. And call it a copout if you want, but if it weren't for those Jokerz this never would have happened."

He pivoted his pudgy body away from them and walked towards where the curved bar had once stood, kicking debris from his path in agitation. Max gave Terry an accusing look which clearly said that he should be ashamed of himself. He averted his face from her and quickly clambered to his feet, sluggish mind working furiously to find a solution to Howard's unfortunate circumstances.

"Look, Howie... I'm sorry if I ever made you feel bad. I didn't mean to."

Howard ignored him, instead stooping down to pick up unbroken glasses and intact bottles. When he had an armful he placed them neatly on a standing table nearby. Trying to be helpful, Terry did the same, gathering up and placing his armload clumsily beside Howie's.

"Hey, you know there's something I've been wanting to run by you. Been thinking about it for quite awhile actually. Never seemed the right time to discuss it with you before. I think now might be a good time."

Howard continued to ignore him, intent on cleaning up the place. Terry doggedly followed suit, gritting his teeth from the extra pounding in his head each time he bent over to pick things off the floor. "Working for Mr. Wayne does have it's perks. He pays pretty well. So I've got substantial creds tucked away and was thinking I could be doing something with them that could pay off better than where they are now."

Howard went to great lengths to avoid looking at Terry who repeatedly tried to get 'in his face'. He dragged a large trash can out from one of the undamaged back rooms and began tossing broken objects into it. Moving faster than Terry had ever seen him, Howie attacked the mess around him. Fatigue made Terry stop and stand where he stood, vainly trying to be heard through the rattle and thud of tossed garbage landing in the metal container.

"So I was thinking--ah--maybe Howie would like a partner in the business."

Terry winced as the clatter of objects hitting the trash can came louder and faster. Howard's jerky, rapid movements indicated he was dealing with an unusual degree of anger. Carelessly thrown pieces began ricocheting off the can hitting Terry who backed away in self-defense.

He sent a wan, helpless look to Max. Hands on hips, the disgust in her tired expression showed not a hint of sympathy for him. Feeling about as wanted as a spark in the gunpowder storage shed, Terry decided to leave. Maybe after Howard calmed down he'd be able to talk some sense to him.

As he headed for an opening in the mangled building front, Travis came rushing through it. There was a triumphant expression on his face and two familiar looking devices clutched in each hand. He gave Terry a passing glance and headed straight towards Max, saying excitedly.

"Max. I found them." Arms outstretched he handed the instruments into her eager hands. "One of them was in pieces, but I think I found most of it. The other one hardly had a scratch on it."

"This is great Travis." She shared his excitement. "I can't believe you were able to find both of them." Quickly she found a flat surface to lay them on, her long, tapered fingers expertly checking them over.

"What exactly were they measuring?"

"This damaged meter was reading the strength of the electomagnetic fields during the phenom. The other one was measuring the electrostatic fields." Her voice trailed off as she peered closely into one piece of damaged technology. After a tense couple of seconds she proclaimed happily. "Good. Looks like the main chip is still intact. We should be able to retrieve the data when we get back to the ca---ah---lab."

She flashed a quick look at Travis, relieved to see his attention was partly diverted on the furiously active Howard.

Howard abruptly stopped moving, looked at the retreating Terry and yelled his name. Terry pivoted cautiously. Howard spoke with surprise in his voice.

"What did you say before?"

Taking steps in the other man's direction, Terry replied. "I was wondering if you were interested in taking on a partner in your business."

"You?"

"Yeah."

"You're serious?"

"Yeah."

"You'd do that for me?"

"For both of us. You've got a good thing going here Howie. I want in on it. It'll be an investment that's going to go places."

"What about the Jokerz?"

Terry shrugged. "The police will get them in line eventually."

Skepticism laced Howie's voice. "You really think so?"

An intangible force drew Terry's gaze to Max. Her eyes held a mixture of curiosity and doubt. He answered Howard while wondering what thoughts compelled her look. "Yeah, I do. What do you think Max?"

"Anything is possible. And who knows..." Their gazes locked and held steady. Terry's showed questioning. Max's relayed hope. Her murmur seemed like it was for his ears only. "Maybe Batman will even show up again someday."

They're doing it again, Travis thought as he witnessed the exchange between the two. It was like they weren't aware of anyone or anything except themselves. And they were communicating a lot more to each other than mere words. And why did Terry hang his head like that after the remark about Batman. Like he was ashamed or something.

He turned away tiredly and found a place to sit. No sense getting upset. He had always known he'd had competition for Max's affections, despite what she constantly claimed. He just didn't realize how strong a hold the opposition had on her.

Travis stared bleary-eyed through the gaping splintered front of the building. Orange light from the newly rising sun illumed the chaotic scene outside. A surge of homesickness went through him. They never had days or nights like this in Amurst, he bemoaned silently.

Slow realization began to change his attitude. This was kind of exciting--in a morbid sort of way. People getting hurt and killed was not a good thing. But back home--nothing--ever--happened. Last exciting event in Amurst that he could remember was when Chuck Feld's Holstein bull walked through the home fence, trotted on over to Nan Vanderveld's place and impregnated eight of her prize Angus heifers. Neighbors in a five mile radius claimed they could hear her screaming in outrage for a good thirty minutes.

Fighting a gang, being in the middle of a mysterious city-wide problem and practically getting plowed under by a runaway car; all in one night, was something he could brag about back home; if that was his style. He grinned at the thought of his friends in Amurst hanging on his every word as he told the tale.

Travis looked over at Max who was watching McGinnis and Howard shake hands. Guess the partner thing was going to happen. He ran his gaze over Max's generous curves and considered her even more generous spirit. She was a woman worth fighting for. Maybe he'd stick around in Gotham for awhile longer. After all, a little excitement now and then was good for a person.

****

FINALLY! Another chapter. It's literally been a sentence a day, but at least it's something. Thanks for understanding.