Chapter 12: Facing Fears part 4
"Ron?"
"Ron, c'mon buddy, wake up …"
"Ron, if you don't wake up this minute, I'm going to tell Kim and Cassie about the satellite feeds you had Cyborg get for you. You know, the shower shots and sunbathing pics?"
"…You're … a dick … Dick …" Ron moaned as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Glad to see you're still with us," Nightwing said, giving a small smile to the boy he was kneeling beside.
As Ron's eyes regained focus, so did his memory, "JOKER!" He growled sitting straight up.
"Relax, buddy," Nightwing said, helping him set up, "Batman and Batgirl are already on it. Are you ok?"
"Kim? Jim? Tim? Mr. and Mrs. Dr. P?" Ron asked, going into full Bat-mode.
"Kim … she ran away, when you went down and the Joker left, she panicked and ran off in tears," Nightwing stated, looking up at the sky, causing Ron to realize he was on the rooftop of the Possible's home. "Mrs. Possible is in state of shock right now. Mr. Possible drove her to Upperton Hospital where Tim was taken by ambulance with gunshot wounds to the upper chest and shoulders."
"Jim? What happened to Jim?" Ron asked, the same eerie feeling washing over him he had both the night of his parents death and earlier when he found Josh's broken body. "Nightwing, Dick, what happened to Jim?"
"Both of the boys were shot," Nightwing broke eye contact before glancing back at the boy. "Tim's wounds are bad but he'll recover."
"Damn it, Grayson, what happened to Jim?" Ron snapped.
"Jim was killed, Ron," Nightwing said carefully, "Joker shot him once in the head twice in the chest, then turned on Tim, missed the head shot, but got him in the shoulder twice, then turned on you. You're lucky you left the vest under your shirt. "
"Kim? Where'd she go? Is she ok?" Ron asked, trembling with rage and sorrow.
"We don't know, she just ran," Nightwing shook his head, "Doubt she even knew where she was going."
"I know where she was going …" Ron said pulling up his shirt, ripping the cloth covering of his Robin vest under his shirt leaving Kevlar portion of the vest.
"What are you doing?" Nightwing said, helping the teen stand to his feet.
"You go and keep an eye on the Possibles," Ron stated, pulling his shirt back down, "I'm going after KP, she needs her best friend right now."
---
The Batmobile roared through the streets of Middleton. Batman's eyes were peeled on the road while Batgirl worked at the computer console. "Anything yet?"
"No," Batgirl said simply, not even looking up.
Batman reached over and pressed a button. "Oracle?"
"Sir?"
"Report." Batman ordered coldly.
"So far the clown's nowhere near center ring, or any ring, or even in the tent it seems."
"He can't just disappear, not like that anyway," Batman growled, "He had to have left some kind of trail."
"He's not going to hurt anyone else," Batman stated with resolve as the steering wheel popped under the pressure of his grip.
"Batman, you seem to be taking this more personally than usual, any reason you want to share?"
"Keep looking for the Clown," Batman said, leaving no room to argue, "Batman out."
"We not let Joker hurt daughter," Batgirl said, glancing up at the surprised Batman.
"How did you …" Batman breathed blinking in shock.
"You act different around Kimmie," Batgirl explained, "Treat her like Nightwing when Nightwing not looking. I guessed."
"You're getting better at being a detective," Batman said, giving one of his rare offerings of praise. Batgirl in response lifted her head and stuck out her chest proudly. "Just don't tell anyone, especially Kimberly or Robin."
---
'Be happy.'
The words resounded in Shego's mind as she sat on a low rooftop over Gotham City streets. "How can I be happy?" She asked as her hair flowed in the warm late summer breeze.
"It's not much," Jason Todd said, dressed in his Robin costume minus the cape which was being used as a blanket wrapped around his girlfriend's shoulders. He and Shelia sat together on a rooftop that gave a clear view of Downtown Gotham. "But it makes me happy."
"What's that?" Shelia asked, turning her emerald eyes to the second Boy Wonder.
"When me and Batman save someone," Jason said staring down at the streets, "I'm not talking about an ungrateful politician or big wig who wouldn't know gratefulness if it bit them in the ass. I'm talking about saving a girl from a rapist, or a family from a gun toting thief. Seeing the look on their face, wordlessly thanking you for saving their life, it just … I don't know… makes me feel good. BUT don't tell Bruce I said that. I have a reputation to keep."
"That why you stopped going with Batman on Justice League trips?" Shelia asked, snuggling against him.
"Yeah kinda," Jason nodded, "It's like you say your brothers were starting to get like, the Justice League tends to focus on the big problems, but then everyone else has to deal with the generic monsters AKA common criminals. What's the point in protecting a world that's already being picked apart form the inside out? They need heroes like us, Shelia. So why won't you help me fight?"
"Don't start that again, Jason," Shelia said warningly, "Shego stayed back with Team Go. I'm not fighting, not anymore."
"Not even to help me save my mom?" Jason asked pleadingly.
"I'm sorry," Shelia shook her head, "I love you, but I'll leave that to you, I know you can handle yourself."
"I understand …" Jason said disappointedly, "I found her though."
"What?" Shelia blinked in surprise, sitting up, "You found your mother?"
"Yup!" Jason beamed, standing up, "I was hoping you'd come and help me save her, but … the guy who has her is just one big joke so it's no trouble. I can take a guy who fights with flowers, playing cards and whoopee cushions no problem."
He then looked at her, "You sure you won't help?" he watched her shake her head no slowly and looked down sadly. Jason tilted her head up, "Listen, I'll have my mom to go along with it after I save her, and your on your own, what do you say … if you wanted …" he started shyly, before gulping and pressing on, "After I save my mother tonight, we meet back tomorrow night, right here. Me, you, and Mom we can leave all this behind. And … if you want … and mom'll give me the green light, want to get married?"
"Whoa …" Shelia breathed staring at her boyfriend in shock, "You and me … whoa, I mean … whoa …"
"If you want to wait, I understand, we're both still young, and we've got along time yet …" Jason was interrupted by Shelia pressing her lips to his and forcing her tongue into his mouth. They held the kiss for over a minute before they broke it, resting their foreheads together. "Is that a yes?"
"You bet your fairy boots it is, Bird Boy," Shego teased.
"I really wish Bruce would have let me wear real footwear," Jason smiled before kissing her again, hugging her tightly to him. "On second thought, you going to sleep tonight?"
"Doubtful," Shelia grinned.
"Then wait right here," Jason said pulling his cape on, "I'll go, get mom, and be back in a few hours. We'll leave tonight, get married tomorrow, and start trying to have kids tomorrow night!"
"Down, cowboy," Shego giggled, "One step at a time," She said, kissing him again, this time more gently, "You get your mom first, then we can start picking out baby names."
"Alright, I'll be right back! Love you" Jason said, firing a grappling gun after Shelia returned the statement, and swung away.
Shelia sat down and got comfortable and finally drifted off to a dreamless sleep. When she opened her eyes again, the midday sun was shining down on her. "Jason? Mrs. Todd?" She asked, wondering if they were playing a game and hiding. "Guess it's taking longer than he thought …"
She waited another couple hours before scaling down a fire escape to the streets. She was smiling the whole time 'til a newspaper salesman called an advertisement that almost sent her to her knees.
"TEENAGED WARD OF BILLIONAIR BRUCE WAYNE KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT, READ ALL ABOUT IT!"
"What?" Shelia grabbed the boy, "What did you just say?"
"Here, take the paper free, toots!" the boy yelped, handing her the paper.
Shelia read through the article, her breath coming in short jerks as her eyes stung with tears. "Oh, God … oh, God, no … please, no …" She whimpered before breaking out into a full run toward Wayne Manor.
It didn't take her long to reach the mansion on the outskirts of town, where she pounded on the door repeatedly.
Alfred Pennyworth answered and though his demeanor was as official as ever, his eyes were plainly bloodshot. "Ms. Goh, I …"
"Where is he? Jason, where is he? I know he's here, the paper's wrong, it has to be wrong!" Shelia said in a rush.
"He's not here, Shelia," Bruce said, stepping out, his eyes dark and his face a solid chiseled stone as usual, "He passed away last night in a motorcycle accident around midnight."
"Bullshit, Wayne, he was with me at midnight, and he said he was going after his mom," Shelia barked, getting in the man's face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Bruce said emotionlessly.
"I want the truth, I want to know what happened to him," Shelia growled, letting her hand erupt in green flames, "I want to know who killed him, I want him, I want to make him hurt." She said, tears of grief and rage spilling from her shimmering green eyes.
"It doesn't matter, Shelia," Bruce said, narrowing his eyes, "nothing you or I c-can ever undo what's been done." He said his voice breaking slightly.
"He loved you like a father," Shelia said in disbelief, "are you going to do anything to avenge his death at all?"
"It won't bring him back," Bruce said looking away.
"COWARD!" Shelia screamed in the Dark Knight's face, "All you so-called heroes! You all … it's all great when people bow down and worship you, but when ever something bad happens it's always crawl in your little holes and pretend it didn't happen, right? Bastards, all of you, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, You, you're all worthless, I HATE YOU ALL!" She yelled before turning her back and running away from the Manor and Bruce.
Shego ran into the city and saw police cars roaring down the street. Call it fate's call, but she decided to follow.
She approached a small STAR Labs laboratory that was surrounded by Police and SWAT vehicles. "What's going on?" Shelia asked one of the police officers.
"Some nobody wannabe criminal with a bunch of robot … women has broken in trying to get some weapon," the officer said, "Batgirl's already inside.
"Thanks," Shelia said, before easing back into the crowd, and making her way around the building.
She made her way into the lab and found Batgirl fighting a group of robot blondes. She watched the redhead's leg sweep one before forcing a batarang into another's mechanical skull. "I'm bringing you in, Lipsky!" Batgirl said as her red hair and yellow and black cape swept around her while she turned on the only other person in the lab.
"You think you're so cool with that pointy eared mask," the strange, blue skinned scientist with his hair pulled back into a ponytail said, glaring at Batgirl. "BUT YOU'RE NOT!"
"If you say so," Batgirl said starting to approach the man, but Shelia hopped down between them, her hands blazing.
"Shelia? What are you doing?" Batgirl said in surprise.
"Figures, Barbie," Shelia growled, "Jason hasn't been dead but a few hours and you're already acting like it didn't happen!"
"Shelia, it's not like that!" Batgirl gasped, fighting the tears that she's been fighting since she got the news of Jason's death, "The City needs us. Jason knew what it meant when he chose our path."
"Yeah … yeah, he did," Shelia smirked, "And one more thing ..." She said, flaming her hands even brighter. "It's not Shelia anymore, it's Shego."
"What?" Batgirl back stepped.
"You walk your path," She said crouching down, "I'll walk mine!" She said leaping toward the heroine.
"Have I been happy?" Shego asked, wiping the stray tear from her cheek. "I can't go back to Dr. D. Joker's … I can't be near him right now …" She whispered, closing her eyes as realization hit her. "I haven't got anywhere to go."
She quickly made her way back to her hotel room nervously. She sat down on her bed, looking at her uniform, the one that matched her brothers' uniforms. Her brothers … She turned her eyes to the phone and looked at it in mild terror.
She reached for it once, but pulled back as if it was going to burn her. Finally, she grabbed the receiver and held it out. Slowly, she pressed the buttons and brought it to her ear. She heard the voice answer and started to speak, but at first, no words came. Finally when the voice on the other end started getting agitated, she spoke up. "It's me… Hego… Heath …" Shego said in a small voice. "I just… I j-just wanted to talk … I've missed you … all of you guys …"
---
Ron knew exactly where to look, there was only one place Kim would go. It's where she always went to think and get her head on straight when something went wrong.
He finally made it to the chain linked fence and peered over into the old overgrown playground of the closed down preschool where he met Kim years ago. And on the small hill under the dead elm tree, he saw Kim sitting with her knees pulled to her chest. Ron jumped the fence and carefully made it through the un-mowed grass. "KP?" he said as he approached the redhead.
Kim's head snapped up at the sound of Ron's voice and her blood shot eyes locked onto Ron instantly. "R-Ron? RON!" She cried out jumping up and tackling the teen to the ground, putting him in a bone crushing hug, "yourealrightyourealrightyourealright!" She chanted as she placed kisses all over his cheeks and forehead.
"Watch the ribs, KP," Ron groaned, as she let go.
"Ron, how … I saw you get shot … I saw you fall down … how did …" she sniffled, looking into his chocolate brown eyes.
"I'm a VP of Wayne Enterprises, remember?" Ron said, cursing himself for lying to his best friend, "I can't go anywhere without a bulletproof vest, ya know, just in case."
"What about my brothers?" Kim asked, looking fearful, even more so when Ron looked away.
"Tim … he'll be ok, but he'll be out for a while …" Ron said carefully.
"And Jim?" Kim pressed, and when Ron only sighed, "And Jim …"
"It'll be ok, Kim," Ron said sitting up, "I promise, somehow it'll be ok …"
Kim began trembling heavily, "They … they were just arguing …" She said in between heavy, shaking breaths, "they wanted …w-w-wanted … they wanted to … to go to the H-Hallow-Halloween part … party … this … this year …" She swallowed hard in a sob, "I heard them talking … they … God … Ron, they were going to dress up as 'their heroes' … Ron, they were going to dress up as us and we couldn't save them!" Kim let out a strangling sob, "They were arguing over who would dress up as a g-girl, dress up as me … they … they …" She couldn't finish, breaking down into hard sobs, clinging to Ron for dear life.
Ron returned the desperate embrace as he let her cry into his chest, his own tears falling into her hair.
---
Mr. Possible's sedan pulled into their driveway. As Mr. and Mrs. Possible silently exited the car and entered their house through the back door, so as not to disturb the crime scene, Mr. Possible went to make some coffee while Mrs. Possible almost zombie-like made her way toward the bedroom, her eyes void of the usually cheerful joy and life that once filled them.
She walked into the master bedroom and sat down slowly on the bed. She sat there for a few moments before standing up and moving toward the closet and began throwing her shoes and whatever boxes on the floor out of the way. Then she reached for the loose floorboard and grunted as she jerked it back, opening a small hidden compartment in the floor.
She slowly pulled a suitcase from the compartment and sat it roughly on the bed. She stared at it for a long moment before reaching up and untucking her blouse. Then, slowly, she began unbuttoning it, bottom up, then let it drop off her shoulders down to the floor. She then moved to her skirt and unzipped the side, letting it slide down her legs. She proceeded to unsnap her bra and let it and her panties, shoes and socks all gather in a pile at her feet.
She opened the old suitcase, and pulled out first a full black bodysuit that covered her completely from the middle of her neck down to her heels. It was tighter than she remembered, but it didn't matter. She pulled on a pair of dark gray, theatrical boots, and a matching glove on her right hand. Then pulled out a long gray hooded cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. She then brought out a two pronged claw and slid it over her scarred left hand with a 'snikt' sound.
"Andy?" Mr. Possible said, walking into the bedroom, stopping suddenly at the sight, "Andrea, don't do this. Let Ron and Bruce handle this! Please!" he begged as she pulled out the last part of her costume: a skull-like faceplate.
"I'm sorry, but it's out of my hands …" She said, her voice devoid of emotion as she placed on the face plate and pulling the hood over her head, "The Joker's Angel of Death awaits…"
To Be Continued …
Next Time: The Phantasm Returns!