Chapter (When to ask for help.)

"Sir, we're picking up signals on the bat wave…"

"Thanks Alfred… Should I go change?" Bruce ran his hand through his hair.

"No, I don't think that's necessary quite yet sir…Observe", Alfred nodded toward the large screen. A picture of a blurry Catwoman filled the screen, then it went into focus, then out of focus, until it settled to a blurry medium.

"Batman, I'm sending a request for your help." Bruce's mouth dropped to the floor. The women sighed, putting her hand on her forehead momentarily obscuring her eyes, "I-I know this will seem odd to you, but I believe you're the only person you can help me… As I'm sure you've noticed my calculating has been a little… well… off lately and… You purposely let me get away that one time… So as your favorite villain, I want us to team up and…" The voice broke off for a while and it became obvious that someone was tampering with the sound trying to hide something, but even with the manipulation, it was obvious that Catwoman was coughing. "You have to help me find something… The only thing that can help me… I don't know why you'd want to help me. But really, have I ever done anything so terrible? I haven't blown up the city, and I've been returning most of the things that I've stolen over the years. I steal more for the thrill than the materials… So… If you want to help me… Meet me…(More coughing)…Meet me under the bat tower…I mean bell tower….That's all… No I mean at midnight…"

Bruce and Alfred exchanged a glance, "Sir, you aren't… Surly you haven't even thought of helping Catwoman…"

"Alfred. Catwoman is Selina, and I know Selina. I love Selina; I-I have to help her!" Bruce said.

"You'd be helping a criminal! And you may endanger your identity! Erm… Sir."

"The police think I'm a criminal, there isn't that much of a difference Alfred! She's been returning the things she's stolen, she's turning a new leaf, I should help her; to encourage her to join the right side!"

"Sir, she SAYS that she's been returning the thing but how do we know for sure that…" Alfred started talking but Bruce leaned on the control for the Bat wave, and a random channel came on…

"Here on channel 33 news is the mystery of the decade, things reported stolen or missing over a period of ten years have mysteriously been returned, along with notes from Catwoman, apologizing for her mistakes… Could Catwoman be turning over a new leaf?"

Bruce shook a hand toward the television, then turned back to Alfred, "Look, she didn't lie! And she wrote notes, for everyone! Do you realize how long that probably took her? It was most likely difficult for her and…"

"I don't mean to step out of my place sir, but what will being seen with Catwoman do your Batman's reputation?"

" People will see that Batman has tamed the wild Catwoman, it'll be great publicity! Not that I care… I just want to help her, Alfred! She needs me!" Bruce insisted.

"I think it's you who needs her. The cat has certainly obtained your tongue sir. You're not even sure Catwoman is Selina."

"I am. I recognized a bit of the background in the video, it's her apartment!"

"All apartment's look alike sir."

"Not true. Look I'm going to try to help her."

"I think you're making a mistake."

"All the better to learn from, Alfred."

"Whatever you say sir. Go get dressed." Alfred sighed, "Your generation is going to the cats…"

-at the Bat-tower -er- bell-tower at midnight-

Bruce was fully dressed in his batman garb, with his disguised voice at the ready. A small white hand came around the corner first, grasping to the side of the tower pulling the weak body forward, "You came." The body nearly collapsed but Batman caught the girl holding her draping form in his arms.

"Selina", he said breathlessly, revealing too much passion in his voice.

Her head rolled to one side as a spoiled attempt to be cocked, "You know my name? Smart Bat. Much, much more clever than I gave you credit for." She winced and began to shake in his arms.

"St-stay with me", Bruce managed to get the gruff voice back, "What do you need? Why? And where are we going?"

"Some herbs… I'm… I don't know. I have this…condition…"

"Condition?" Batman raised an eyebrow, "Baby- uh…. Selina, what is it?"

"It's… It's a…" Selina began shaking harder, the attack stopped and she went limp in his arms, "it's a rare disease. It's what the doctors said. They wouldn't tell me much. But it's… it can be…" She stopped talking.

"Selina what can it be?" Batman asked.

"Fatal."

A/N: TO BE CONTINUED! Sorry for taking so long, I re-read the comic for more inspiration… SO now you know what's wrong with Selina. (The original line was Batman's, "Don't play cute, Selina. Why didn't you tell me you were suffering from a rare disease that could kill you at any moment?" Ah comics… Ciao for now!