A/N: 2022.11.24

...Not the best two weeks.

Rest in peace, Jason David Frank. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.

Chapter 37

It took a minute to bring Terry back to consciousness. After they did, Sally did another quick check to make sure Terry was okay. Once she was sure, Basem escorted Terry to the main room to just sit and breathe. Terry rubbed his eyes, while he held a cup of water, as Basem studied him.

"You sure you're okay?" Basem asked.

Terry nodded, letting out a breathless sigh, "Yeah." He paused. "No." He looked at the water. "What do we do now?"

Basem sat back, "I don't know, Terry. I… just don't know."

"I mean… I know we have to carry on. We have to be heroes. But… what do we do… without him?"

"I really don't know."

Hayate and Michelle approached them, and Hayate asked, "How are you feeling, Terry?"

"I'm upright," Terry answered. "That's something."

Hayate clasped his hands behind his back. "What shall we do next?"

"We were just talking about that," Basem replied.

"Want me to set someone on fire?" Michelle asked.

Terry scoffed while Basem shook his head, though both managed small smiles.

"I don't mind. For real! It could be anybody, as long as it makes you feel better. Except Max or Helena. They're badassess. Or Sally, she's just way too sweet. I mean, there are a couple of others, too, but, just about anyone you say, I'm on it!"

"So, if he said me?" Basem asked.

"Then I could tell that was the grief talking," Michelle replied. "I mean, I'd do it anyway, no offense."

Basem laughed a bit.

Terry almost smiled, "No, thanks, Shell. But… seriously, thanks."

Michelle nodded.

Basem exhaled and leaned back, "This is… so… hard, man. Seriously, I don't know what to do."

"What if we did something?" Alfred asked as he and Kailyn entered the room, getting everyone's attention.

"Hey, Kay," Michelle greeted.

"Hey, Em," Kailyn smiled.

"When did you guys get back?" Basem asked.

"We were on our way this morning," Alfred answered. "Gramps told us what happened after we got to town. We rushed over here. Came in through the Cave." He looked at Terry. "I'm so sorry, Terry."

"Thanks, Al," Terry replied.

"We wanna help you guys out."

"We're going to help," Kailyn corrected.

"Right," Alfred agreed. "We wanna help—are gonna help. We're helping. What we mean is… we'll watch over Gotham tonight. And longer. You guys… do whatever you need to."

Terry was in no mood to argue. "Yeah. Yeah, okay. Thanks."

"I'll help you out," Michelle volunteered. She smirked a bit, "Look after you newbies."

Alfred and Kailyn laughed, softly.

"Shell…?" Basem said, worriedly.

"It's cool, B," Michelle insisted. "I don't mind."

"Still don't trust us?" Alfred asked, jokingly.

Michelle raised an eyebrow, "Wrong. I trust you… a bit. But you could be trying to trick us and make a play for being Batman."

Alfred threw his head back, "I said I was sorry!"

"I believe you. But, if you hurt my girl, Kay, I'll burn your ass." She motioned toward Kailyn, "'Cause she's awesome."

Alfred blinked. "'My girl, Kay'?"

"I like to surround myself with awesome women. I didn't have that growing up. Kay is awesome."

"Thanks, Shell," Kailyn giggled.

"No argument from me," Alfred put his hands up in defense.

"You sure, Shell?" Terry asked. "You can take all the time you need, too."

"The big boss gave me a second chance," Michelle replied. "With the only condition being I don't screw it up. Only one other person ever did that for me. Showed me there are some good people left in this crappy world. It's for him. Hell, yeah, I can do it. Even if they weren't here, I was going on patrol tonight. 'Cause it's for you guys, too. You all need the night off. You can trust me, boss."

Terry smiled. "I do. Always will."

"I'll join you all," Hayate suggested.

"No, you won't," Michelle countered. "Baby, Bruce meant a lot to you, too. You need a night off. I got this."

"He meant a lot to you, as well."

"And I owe him for giving me a new life. One I could be proud of. I'm gonna miss the hell out of him. But I haven't earned the right to miss him yet. Not like all of you have. I'll miss him later. Not tonight. Tonight, you guys miss him. I can hurt tomorrow or later."

Terry stared at Michelle. He stood up and walked over to her.

"Uh, Terry?" Michelle asked.

"If you wanna hurt tomorrow, I get that." Terry put his hand on her shoulder. "But don't you think, for a second, you have any less right to grieve for him than we do, Shell."

"Terry…"

"I mean it," Terry interrupted. "You're as much a part of this family as anyone."

Michelle's voice caught.

"You have been since you made the decision to be a hero and put your old life behind you. You get to miss him… just as much as we do."

Michelle mulled that over in her mind. She swallowed. "More than you know… that meant everything to me, Terry. And I will hurt. Tomorrow."

Max walked in and rushed at Terry, hugging him.

"Sorry for scaring you," Terry whispered.

"It's okay." Max hugged him tighter.

"Are you okay?"

"No." Max sniffed. "Not at all."

"Me, neither," Terry whispered.

A few minutes later, everyone stood outside as they watched the coroner take Bruce's body and place it into the back of a hearse. Helena, Diana, and Dick walked with the coroners, guiding Bruce's body, from the bedroom to the hearse. Just before the coroners put Bruce's body in the hearse, Terry put his hand on Bruce's arm, causing everyone to stop.

Terry took a breath then slowly moved his hand away.

After the coroners drove away, Helena walked up and rubbed Terry's back. "Terry."

Terry looked at Helena.

"Go home. Rest, little brother." Helena turned toward Max, "Mind driving him home?"

"Not at all."

Michelle looked at Basem, Sally, and Hayate, "You guys get going, too. I need to get my stuff together." She looked at Kailyn and Alfred. "Whenever you guys are ready…"

"Where do you want us?" Alfred asked.

"Upper west side, first. There was a rumor that the T's are trying to pull off some robberies since the city's still a mess. If they show up, we'll turn their faces from red and white to black and blue."

"Really?" Basem smiled.

"I've wanted to say that for, like, six months," Michelle replied. "Let me have this!"

Basem put his hands up.

"Valerie knows Batman's busy," Barbara said, quietly, to Michelle. "She'll contact you, directly, or Oracle if she needs something."

"Don't worry, Commissioner. I promise not to let you down, either."

"Michelle." Barbara turned to her. And smiled. "I wasn't worried about that for a moment."

Michelle straightened up a bit. "Well. Okay, then. For reasons not at all related to this, I'm gonna go inside and cry some more."

Terry chuckled a bit. He looked at everyone, "Before we all leave… thanks. Just… thanks."

"Thank you, Terry," Dick replied.

"I didn't do anything."

"We're all standing here." Tim smiled. "I'd say you did a lot."

That night, Ember was standing on top of the Gotham Life building, gazing at the city; Ghost-Wing and Jaguar hadn't made it out yet. The whole city seemed quiet. Ember was relieved Terry, Basem, and Hayate agreed to taking the night off; they needed it. Ember considered doing the same, but the job helped clear her head. Plus, more than everyone else, Terry needed the break. He'd been through too much. Ember could say the same for Basem and Hayate, as well.

Terry, Basem, and Hayate needed to grieve. While they grieved, Gotham still needed watching over. That's the role Ember knew they needed her to perform.

Ember's phone rang in her earpiece. She answered, "This is Ember."

"Hey, Shell," Sally whispered.

"Hey, Doc," Ember replied. "You guys home?"

"Yeah, we're good. You okay?"

Ember took a deep breath. "Yeah. I'm… I'm good. I'm good. Just… hanging in there."

"I know. It's… well. I just… I know that's… two you lost."

Ember's eyes lowered a bit.

"We've all been dancing around it but…" Sally continued. "…we all know about Amanda Waller. We knew the whole time. And… I know you know we know."

Ember closed her eyes and exhaled.

"We don't have to talk about it. I just… thought… maybe you should? If you want to."

"Yeah. Yeah, I think… I need to. Especially now." Ember looked around the city, "She told me she didn't want anybody to know. That she was sick or when she passed. When she died and I didn't say anything… I knew Bruce knew. He was one of the few who would know."

"Yeah, he told us."

"I figured."

"I know you like to keep things to yourself," Sally said. "But… we would've… done whatever you wanted to do to get you through it."

"That's just it. I don't know what I needed. Or… need. You guys were already being extra nice, which is why I knew all of you knew. But… then and now… I don't know what to do. I've… never dealt with this. Losing people who care about me. I didn't wanna… make it worse by just… breaking down."

"Breaking down helps sometimes. And, woman, all of us are cars in a junkyard right now!"

Ember chuckled, lightly, as she could almost hear Sally's smile. "Maybe I can…" Ember said, "…stop by tomorrow?"

"Come by when you call it a night," Sally said. "I'll be up."

"Are you sure? That'll be real late."

"Please. Like I'm not used to that. 'Sides, no one's sleeping tonight. Come on by. We'll be awake."

"You rock, Doc."

Hayate sat on the floor with his legs crossed. He was trying to breathe and calmly deal with his grief.

But all he could see was Bruce.

The nights at Wayne Manor when Bruce would tell Terry, Basem, and Hayate old war stories. The dinners with the family and the moments of intense training. The kindhearted man who made Hayate feel like Gotham was his home.

Hayate tried to keep his breathing normal until it came out in gasps. Until, for one of the few times in his life, Hayate cried.

After a few minutes, he heard his phone ring. He went over to it and saw Sally's name and picture. He answered, "Is everything alright, Sally?"

"I'm making a late-late dinner," Sally replied. "Shell's gonna come over after patrol. You get over here, too."

"I don't want to impose…"

"Hayate. We just lost Bruce. None of us are sleeping tonight. It's better we cry together. We'll be crying alone plenty."

Hayate was silent for a while. "I'll be there soon."

"Front door's open," Sally replied. "Come on in when you get here."

"Thank you, Sally."

Basem stared at his old motorcycle, lightly touching the various parts on it. He remembered talking to Bruce about some parts he would need to upgrade it and how hard they were to find since the bike was so old. Basem smiled, briefly, remembering how he and Bruce looked for a month to find the right replacement exhaust pipe.

"You weren't as bad as everyone said, old man," Basem whispered. "You weren't as bad as you thought you were." He sighed. "Why. Why couldn't you just admit… you were a good man, Bruce?" He felt tears form. "Why couldn't you show it, you stubborn jackass?! Why couldn't… you just live a little longer? Just…" He steadied his breathing. "Just… a little… longer. Dammit!"

Sally walked into the garage and saw Basem. "Baby…"

Basem looked up at her. "I'm sorry, Sally. I didn't…"

"Stop. It's okay." Sally smiled. "I just wanted to know if you wanted broccoli or corn to go with the fish."

Basem laughed a bit. "Uhhh, is both an option?"

"It is and done!" Sally went back into the house.

"I'll come give you a hand."

"You don't have to. I was gonna…"

"Sally," Basem interrupted. "I love you. And… I want to do this. Please?"

Sally smiled. "Grab an apron, handsome."

Helena was sitting on the couch in the Manor, clutching a pillow with all she had. She stared at the flames in the fireplace as tears kept running down her face.

Diana walked in, came over to the couch, and sat next to Helena, wrapping her arms around her.

While they sat, Selina walked in and smiled at the scene. "Mind if I get in on this crying session?"

Helena and Diana looked up; Helena in more shock than Diana, who smiled warmly.

"Mom?" Helena asked. "How'd you get in here?"

"I've known how to break into the place for decades," Selina smiled. "Your dad never checked the wall in the west wing upstairs bedroom. I made a hole there after we got married."

"You could've just called and said you're here. Or used the front door!"

"Where's the fun in that?"

While Helena rolled her eyes, Diana just laughed, softly, and shook her head.

"Well," Helena said, "how ever you got in… I'm glad you're here."

"I can leave," Diana offered.

"Don't you dare," Selina ordered. "She needs both of us." She sat down on the other side of Helena and took hold of Helena's hand.

"You seem…" Helena began, "really okay, Mom."

Selina thought then shrugged. "In the end… Bruce died… with the woman he loved and his children beside him. Not… alone, in this house, where no one even noticed he was gone. To know he was happy at the end… that's all I can ask for." She smiled. "He had everything he didn't before. Sure, I'll miss him and I'll be sad, off and on, but… really? I am okay. Besides, you need me more than I need to not be okay."

"Thank you."

"Plus… I wanna ask about young Mr. Fox."

Helena burst out laughing. "Really?"

"I'm your mother," Selina reminded. "I get to ask these things. Plus, he's a huge step up from your ex."

"I can't deny that's true."

"I admit to also being curious about you and him," Diana admitted.

Helena giggled, "You could've asked!"

"I figured you'd tell me when you're ready."

Helena thought for a moment then sighed. "I guess I am."

"Helena, have you talked to him yet?" Diana asked. "About… you and him?"

"A little," Helena answered. "Just… not in detail. I want to. I wish I could. I wish… I could tell him… how I feel. Instead of always crying."

"You like him, don't you?" Selina asked.

Helena nodded slowly.

"A hell of a lot?"

"Mmhmm."

"Tell him."

"When?"

"Now."

Helena looked at Selina in shock. "Now?"

"Maybe not 'now' now," Selina replied. "But as close to 'now' as you can get."

"Your mother's right," Diana agreed. "Let Lincoln know. The open and honesty is why Terry and Max work so exceptionally well. Once you're past the fear and let someone in… the possibilities are…" She smiled a bit, almost becoming lost in thought. "…endless."

"To no one's surprise, Diana's right. If me and your father had done that, things would've been better. Weirdly, it's kinda why me and Dick happened." Selina looked Helena over, "I'm not saying run off and marry him now. But I am saying give the dear Lincoln Fox the credit, and honesty, he's earned. He's been there for you a lot. And you are absolutely the reason he put on that armor and helped fight Bane. I mean, he wore it… extremely well…"

"Oh, my God, Mom!" Helena groaned.

"What? I'm just saying."

Helena giggled for a moment. She stopped then sniffed. "Would you believe… Dad told me to tell him, too?"

"Your father was a genius. And usually right, as infuriating as that was."

"Hera, wasn't that maddening?" Diana giggled.

"Oh, so much!" Selina groaned. "You just wanted to hit him!" She blinked. "I did hit him!"

Helena smiled. "Every time I try to tell Linc… I either say nothing or just cry."

"Tell him while you're crying," Selina advised. "The one thing your father… what me and him both want for you… is to never make our mistakes. If you want to continue being Huntress… as much as that terrifies me, you can do it. But don't do like I did. Like Bruce did. You have someone who cares about you. Appreciate it. Trust it. Let it have a place in your life. Don't wait."

A couple of hours later saw virtually no criminal activity in the city. Ember, Ghost-Wing, and Jaguar were standing on top of a building, overlooking a highway, as they watched the cars go by.

"Been quiet," Jaguar noted.

"For the past three weeks," Ember said, absentmindedly.

"Bane really did a number on the city," Ghost-Wing recalled. "Then again… the news about Bruce probably brought the city to a standstill."

"Tell me about it," Jaguar agreed.

Ember got on her comms. "Hey, Oracle."

"What's up?" Tiana asked.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Tiana managed to keep all emotion out of her voice.

Too bad for her, Ember knew better. "Oracle…" she, subtly, chided.

Tiana paused. "I mean… I'm not fine but…"

"Why don't you call it a night?" Ember looked at Jaguar and Ghost-Wing. "You guys can, too. Seriously. I can take it the rest of the night. And thanks."

Ghost-Wing studied her. "Counteroffer: you and Oracle actually take the rest of the night off. We got this."

"Well…" Tiana said, "Sally did ask me and Lincoln to come by tonight."

Ember chuckled. "She said the same to me."

"Take the Doc up on her offer," Jaguar implored. "Take some time to rest. Trust us. We got this."

Ember looked at Jaguar and Ghost-Wing and smiled. "Oracle?"

"I'll meet you there," Tiana replied. "With Linc. Ghost-Wing, Jaguar… thank you."

"You're more than welcome," Ghost-Wing said.

"For real, guys, thanks," Ember added.

"Our pleasure, girl," Jaguar smiled.

Michelle arrived at Basem and Sally's at the same time as Tiana and Lincoln pulled up. They heard the front door open and looked to see Sally standing at the door, waving at them. Michelle, Tiana, and Lincoln walked inside, finding Basem and Hayate eating silently.

"I made you guys plates," Sally informed.

"Sally," Michelle said, as Sally closed the door. "Between you and Max, whatever factory made you must've blown up immediately after you two were assembled. 'Cause I've never met anyone like you guys!"

"You always say the sweetest stuff."

As they all sat down around the coffee table and ate in silence, Basem looked at Lincoln, "Talked to Helena?"

Lincoln shook his head, "Not yet. But I will."

"Whenever you do," Michelle grinned a bit, "she'll appreciate it."

"You sound so sure."

Michelle just winked at him.

"No matter what support we give 'em," Basem pushed his food around, "we give 'em all the support they need. That they want."

"Agreed," Hayate said.

"And that goes for each other, too."

"You got it," Michelle nodded.

Basem looked at his can of soda and held it up. "To Bruce."

Everyone held up whatever they were drinking. "To Bruce."

Ace stayed at the foot of Bruce's bed, not able to sleep. His sad eyes just traced around the room, missing his master and rescuer.

The door opened and Helena looked at Ace. Helena smiled, "Hey, boy."

She walked over and sat down next to him, petting his head. Ace just let out a quiet whine.

"Yeah, me, too."

Ace scooted up and put his head in Helena's lap.

"You know something, Ace?" Helena kept stroking his fur. "I never said 'thank you'. For always being there for Dad. You're a good boy." She smiled a bit. "No matter what Terry says."

Ace let out a grunt.

Helena giggled. Her smile slowly fell away. "It's gonna be okay, Ace. We're gonna be okay. Eventually."

Ace looked up at her.

"Why do I believe that? Well, I have to. My dad told me to have hope. And really? That was his superpower." Helena hugged Ace. "It's just gonna hurt for a while. But we'll get through. All of us." She sighed. "Someday."

Max was sitting on the couch, staring the blank television. Lisa and Joe were in town watching the kids, staying over at Mel and Eddie's house. Max bowed her head, rubbing her forehead as her mind went to this and that. Mostly, her thoughts went to Bruce and how much all of this hurt.

Max heard something from upstairs. "Terry?" She got up and walked up to her and Terry's bedroom.

She walked into the room and saw Terry sitting on floor and against the bed, crying with his hands pressed against his face.

She had never heard him cry like this.

Terry lowered his hands and looked up at her. His eyes were red and tears were still rolling down.

She calmly walked closer, sat next to him, and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm sorry, Max," Terry whispered. "I… I can't fight this anymore."

"Stop it," Max demanded. "You cry as much as you want. And screw anyone who tells you can't. They can all kiss my ass."

"I just can't hold it together."

Max rested her head on his shoulder. "So don't. Fall apart. That's why I'm here."

"I miss him…" Terry cried.

"I know," Max cried with him. "I do, too."

"He's gone."

Max just held him tighter.

"He's gone…"

A/N: This is way tougher to get through given the recent passings over the past couple of weeks. Thanks, everyone for sticking with this. The next chapter should be up this weekend. I should have it all done by December. Thanks. See you soon.