He hated getting called to the commissioners office after all nothing good ever came of it. Most of the time they would en up yelling at each other only stopping short of coming to blows because neither wanted to be suspended. Yet he always answered when he was called. Part of being a good cop and he was a good cop. A darn good cop; in fact Detective Havey Bullock figured he was the best cop on the whole force.

Pulling up at the curb his car came to a stop. Chancing a glance over into the passenger seat he gave Detective Montoya a crocked grin, "Keep the car runnin. Shouldn't be long." Putting it in park he opened the door and got out. The window was partway down so he leaned over adding, "If I know the commish it's probably got somethen ta do with my latest report about Batman." With that he headed up the stairs of the police station pushing aside the officer who had opened the door.

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Commissioner Gordon was all ready in a bad mood. The report sitting open on his desk did nothing to help alleviate it. Head held in both hands he sat hunched over at his desk. Bullock was nothing but a pain in his side; a pain that kept criminals in check. That was the problem. Bullock was a good cop, a hard worker even but it was he just rubbed people the wrong way. Most of the time the people he rubbed were the wrong people to be rubbing to begin with which was what made Gordon so mad. Some how the Mayor had received a copy of this very report, normally that wouldn't have upset him but it was what the report said.

"What am I going to do with you Harvey?" He asked himself. A gentle breeze was coming through the window at the moment. What he wouldn't give for Batman to show up at this moment. Yet the chances of him showing up right now where slim to none as it was only 10:15 am. So early in the morning and all ready so hot, seventy-five degrees. The heat wasn't helping.

There came a nock on his door. He knew who it was instantly by the silhouette. "Come in Bullock," his voice trying to sound welcoming but coming off tired instead.

"Ya wanted to see me chief?" was the reply he got as the large detective entered the room. Bullock wasted no time in grabbing a doughnut from the open box by the door. Promptly he started to stuff it in his mouth while grabbing another. "Came as soon as I heard ya wanted to talk to me," this last part barley audible through a mouth full of pastry.

"Cut the crap Bullock you know why I wanted to see you. So lets just get to the point." He sat up in his seat looking the other man in the eye, "How did Mayor Hall get a copy of this report?"

"I gave it ta him." No pause, no missed beat. Harvey kept his eye contact.

"And you did this because…"

"Listen commish, it aint right what that wacko is doin. We say where here ta protect the people of Gotham but we let a masked vigilantly run around shakin down who ever he wants for information. Someone's gota stand up for the little man."

"So you thought you would take it upon your self is that it?"

"Pretty much," Bullock had started on the second doughnut.

"Well Harvey," Gordon stood up and leaned over his desk, "Batman has helped in the apprehension of some of the most dangerous criminals this city has faced. I think he deserves to be commended not strung up."

"Let him put on a badge then." Harvey leaned forward with just as much intensity. "Let him do things legally. Then there wouldn't be no problem. He's just as bad as the people he's puttin away."

"While I am commissioner you will respect my decisions Harvey or I'll have your badge. Is that understood?"

"You threaten me Gordon?"

Exasperated from this argument Jim Gordon sat back down closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. "Look, we all ready get enough heat from the mayors office without inviting more in or selves. Besides if I remember right Batman helped you with the finding who wanted to kill you."

Bullocks face went red. He hadn't told anyone about that so the only way that Commissioner Gordon could know was if Batman had told him. The color quickly left his face, "I gota get back to Montoya. She'll be wondering what's taking so long." Not waiting to be dismissed he got up grabbing yet another doughnut and left the office.

Gordon could do nothing but sigh. Life was only going to get more interesting of that he was sure of. But Bullock had made a good argument, how long could they turn a blind eye to how Batman went about getting information. People had rights regardless if they were guilty or not. Besides weren't people innocent tell proven guilty? Things used to be so black and white when he had started now alls he saw was grey.

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As he stepped out into the heat Harvey looked over his shoulder up at the building. He had done what he had to. If Gordon didn't like it well that was just tuff someone had to stand up for the everyday person. Even if they didn't know or think they need to be stood up for. "Stupid weirdo," he muttered under his breath as he headed back to the car. How could the people of Gotham support a man who ran around in a costume was beyond him.

Retracting his hand quickly from the handle of the door he cursed under his breath. Montoya reached across the car pushing the door open, "So what did the Commissioner want this time Harvey?" A smile was on her beautiful face. Montoya was a nice person, a friendly person, a people person. That bugged Bullock, yet he knew that it also bugged her to be working with him. However they made a good team which both of them knew so they continued to work together.

"Same old thing," was his reply as he slid into the car. Reaching up he put the seatbelt on. "What say we grab somethin ta eat?" Putting the car into drive he pulled back onto the street heading away from the station and back to the job. There were people to protect.

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Finally his shift was over time to go home. Home was a one bedroom apartment in a slummy part of the city. He had gotten the place to remind him why he was a cop. The guy downstairs seemed to be oblivious that this wasn't the uptown district but hey you can't chose your neighbors. Stepping inside he turned to check his mail. Nothing. No surprise there he didn't get mail except for bills. Closing his box he headed up the stairs to his apartment.

Flipping on the light he took a quick visual inventory of the place. There was a half eaten pizza on the table, his sofa was covered in paper work, dishes piled up next to and in the sink, and dirty clothes every where. Everything was as he had left it. Making his way to the couch he just shoved some papers aside to sit down. Some of them fell to the floor, he just let them. Searching for the remote to his television he reached into the crack between the cushion. "Holy mother of!" he let out as he withdrew his hand. Blood dripped from a couple of his finger tips.

Standing up he tore the cushion off the couch went sent more papers fly. To his surprise was a nest of baby mice with a momma mouse standing guard. Still having his gun attached under his arm he pulled it. "You aint calling this home sister." Then the pounding on the floor began. "Stupid idiot," he muttered. He really hated the guy below him.

Holstering his weapon he set out to find his dust pan and broom. He had an aquarium somewhere around this place. Put the little rodents in there for the evening he'd take care of getting rid of them in the morning. Finding the aquarium and dustpan he captured the little critters putting them into it without any problem.

Being tired he figured it was time to retire. Fist though he had to take care of his hand. Getting to the bathroom he opened the medicine cabinet pulling out some hydrogen peroxide. Pouring it over the bites it foamed and sizzled as it disinfected. Next he put some ointment on it followed by a bandage. Now it was time for bed.